古 — Old
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Start 7-Day Free Trial →Visual Radical Families for 古 (Old)
These kanjis share the same recurring visual building block in Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics. Tap any small tile to compare its story:
Common Japanese Words with 古 (Old)
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Something that is halfway in the middle (中) of being old (古) is used.
Old (古) expressed as an i-adjective.
Frequently Asked Questions About 古 (Old)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 古 (Old)?
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The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 古 ("Old", read as こ) is: For some reason, this old tombstone of a very cold (こ) person is full of rubies (ふる). Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 古 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 古 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
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The Japanese kanji 古 means "Old". Its primary reading is こ (On'yomi: こ; Kun'yomi: ふる). Our Japanese kanji mnemonics tie the reading directly into the visual story so you remember both the meaning and pronunciation together.
What are common Japanese words and compounds with 古?
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Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 古 include: 中古 (ちゅうこ - used, second-hand, old), 古い (ふるい - old (not used for people)).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 古 (Old) faster?
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Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 古 (Old) and its shared visual radical family into memorable characters and objects, paired with smart Spaced Repetition (SRS) and native audio so the memory sticks permanently.