Definition
古 (gǔ) means 'ancient' and refers to things from the distant past, such as culture or architecture. It is more concise than 古老 (gǔ lǎo), which also means 'ancient' but often carries a sense of age-old tradition or venerability. 久远 (jiǔ yuǎn) emphasizes a remote time span, used for events or periods rather than objects.
adjective
ancientold (from the distant past)
Easily confused
- 占zhànlook-aliketo occupy, to take up (space, time, or a position)
- 雇gùsound-aliketo hire, to employ
- 右yòulook-alikeright side; right (direction)
- 股gǔsound-alike(classifier) for long winding things (rope, river, strand)
- 害hàilook-alike(verb) to harm, to cause trouble to
- 鼓gǔsound-alike(noun) drum
- 告gàolook-aliketo sue, to file a lawsuit against
- 顾gùsound-aliketo take into consideration, to attend to (often used with 不 or 只)
- 后hòulook-alikebehind; back (in space)
- 故gùsound-aliketherefore, hence, so
Examples
- 。Tā xǐhuan yánjiū gǔ wénhuà.He likes to study ancient culture.
- 。Zhè běn gǔ shū shì jǐ bǎi nián qián xiě de.This ancient book was written several hundred years ago.
- 。Wǒmen cānguān le yí zuò gǔ jiànzhù.We visited an ancient building.
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