| Meaning |
old 古
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| Explanation |
Picture of a gravestone |
Used in these Kanji:
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古
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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old
furui, KO Ten 十 and mouth 口 (古 was derived from the image of a skull). See this as the image of a grave mound with a cross.
Under the tomb mound/stone lies the "old".
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口
十
古
Vocabulary |
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苦
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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bitter, pain, worries
nigai, kurushii, KU Top: plant 艹, bottom: old 古 (image of a tomb stone)
Plants (or herbs) that are old, taste bitter.
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艹
古
Vocabulary |
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湖
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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lake
mizuumi, KO From left: Water 氵, old 古 (=tomb-stone), moon 月
Water and the old moon can be seen in the lake.
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氵
古
月
Vocabulary |
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固
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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hard, firm, strong
katai, KO Outside frame 囗, but here: mouth 口, inside: old 古 (= tomb stone). [Some things like the meat of old animals or full-grown vegetable become hard with age.]
In the mouth old things taste: hard. (In contrast: The young/immature 未 is in the mouth 口 with a taste 味)
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固
囗
古
Vocabulary |
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居
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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residence, inhabit, exist, stay
iru, oru, KYO Top: buttocks in side view 尸, below: old 古 (= originally a skull, but more helpful: the image of a tomb stone)
When the buttocks gets old, he stays at his residence.
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居
尸
古
Vocabulary |
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故
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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reason, past, cause, circumstances
yue, KO Left: old 古 (tomb stone), right: to strike 攵 (hand 又 with a stick ノ)
When the old (man) strikes, there is a reason in the past.
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攵
古
Vocabulary |
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個
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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individual, private person
KO Left: person 亻/人, right: hard 固 (Some things 囗 with age 古 become hard.)
A person who acts such hard (= tough) is actually an isolated individual.
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亻
固
囗
古
Vocabulary |
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適
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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suitable, fit, agree
TEKI Left: movement 辶, right: old emperor (combination of emperor 帝 and old 古)
The old emperor moves suitable and fitting.
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辶
帝
古
Vocabulary |
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敵
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JLPT 1Joyo 5 |
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enemy, rival, opponent
kataki, TEKI Left: old emperor (var. of emperor 帝 and old 古), right: strike 攵 (hand 又 with a stick ノ)
The old emperor strikes his enemies.
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帝
古
攵
Vocabulary |
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潮
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JLPT 1Joyo 6 |
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seawater, tide
shio, CHŌ Left: water 氵, right: morning 朝 - BETTER: lake 湖, having the part: "old 古" both normal and upside-down to show changing directions of the tides.
The lake with changing directions stands for: seawater & tides.
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氵
朝
古
月
Vocabulary |
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箇
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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a piece, item (counter)
KA, KO Top: bamboo 竹, below: hard 固 (Some things 囗 [=meat, some vegetable] with age 古 become hard 固)
Bamboo is hard and thus suitable as an: item counter.
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竹
固
囗
古
Vocabulary |
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枯
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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wither, decay, blasted
kareru/rasu, KO Left: tree 木, right: old 古 (= tomb stone)
When a tree is old it withers and decays.
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木
古
Vocabulary |
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据
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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lay a foundation, set, place, fix, set, install, equip
sueru/waru, Left: hand 扌, right: reside, residence 居 (Where your buttocks 尸 gets old 古, is your residence.)
My hand lays for my residence: the foundation.
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扌
居
尸
古
Vocabulary |
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嫡
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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heir, legitimate birth
CHAKU Left: woman 女, right: old emperor (mélange of emperor 帝 and old 古)
The woman bore the old emperor a heir.
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女
帝
古
Vocabulary |
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摘
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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pluck, pick, pinch, extract
tsumu, tsumamu, TEKI Left: hand 扌, right: old emperor (mix of emperor 帝 and old 古)
The hand of the old emperor is plucking sth.
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扌
帝
古
Vocabulary |
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滴
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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drop, drip
shizuku, shitataru, TEKI Left: water 氵, right: old emperor (mix of emperor 帝 and old 古)
(Due to problems with the prostate gland?) Passing 'water', can be done by old emperor only drop by drop.
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氵
帝
古
Vocabulary |
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錮
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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to imprison so., tie up, to bond sb.
KO Left: gold/metal 金, right: hard/firm/strong 固 (Some things 囗 [= meat, some vegetable] with age 古 [= tomb stone] become hard 固)
Metal is hard/strong and thus used for a prison.
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金
固
囗
古
Vocabulary |
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裾
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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hem, cuff (of trousers), foot of a mountain
suso, Left: clothes 衤/衣, right: exist, residence 居 (Where your buttocks 尸 gets old 古, is your residence.)
Clothes have/exist-only with hems and cuffs.
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衣
居
尸
古
Vocabulary |
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| Similar Radicals (either meaning or view) |  |
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