The Chinese Radical: 古


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Meaning
ancient, old, former    古

Explanation Originally derived from the picture of a skull, hence "old". But the idea of a burial mound is also helpful.

Used in these characters:
JLPT HSK 1
to do, to make, to compose
zuò
Left person , right: therefore, reason 故 (If the old (man) strikes 攵 then with a reason) [to strike 攵/ = hand with a stick ]
The person has a reason to do sth.
JLPT HSK 3
reason, cause, intentional, therefore, hence

Left: old (image of a tomb stone), right: strike 攵/ (hand with a stick )
If the old (man) hits, then intentionally and with a reason.
JLPT HSK 3
residence, to reside, live

Top: buttocks seen from the side , below: old (originally derived from the image of a skull, hence "old"; the idea of a burial mound is also helpful)
Where the buttocks becomes old, he has his residence.
JLPT HSK 4
to subdue, to overthrow, gram

Top: ten , below: older brother (A big mouth on feet )
(The inferior must leave the battle-field, such as to run away using the legs:) The old gets legs , if it is subdued.
JLPT HSK 4
estimate, reckon, assessment, merchant
gū, gù
Left: person , right: old (originally: skull, but here better as image a tomb stone)
A person who is old (and experienced) is good in estimating.
JLPT HSK 4
bitter, hardship, pain, to suffer

Top: plant , below: old (Pictogram of a tomb stone)
Plants (or herbs) that are old, taste bitter.
JLPT HSK 5
hard, strong, solid, undoubtedly

Outside frame , but here: mouth , inside: old (= tomb stone). [Some things like the meat of old animals or full-grown vegetable becomes hard with age.]
In the mouth old things taste: hard. [In contrast: In the mouth have young things (= this is "not yet ") a special taste 味]
JLPT HSK 5
tide, current, damp, moist
cháo
Left: water , right: dynasty, government Here: a lake 湖, having the part old: once normal and upside-down to express changing directions
Like a lake 湖 with changing directions are the seawater's tides.
JLPT HSK 5
residence, to give up, to abandon, to give alms
shě, shè
Top: cover , below: old
The special cover for myself to become old, is my residence.
JLPT HSK 5
paternal aunt, husband's sister, husband's mother (old)

Left: woman , right: old (originally a skull, but better the image of a tomb stone)
The woman who is old, is the paternal aunt.
JLPT HSK 5
a drop, to drip

Left: water , right: old emperor (mix of emperor and old )
(Due to problems with the prostate gland) Passing 'water', can the old emperor only drop by drop.
JLPT HSK 5
to pick (flowers, fruit), pluck, take, borrow
zhāi
Left: hand , right: old emperor 啇 (mix of emperor [He stands and is covered with cloth ] and old )
The hand of the old emperor is picking/plucking sth.
JLPT HSK 5
beard, mustache, non-Han people, reckless

Left: old (image of a tomb stone), right: flesh, body part /
Like old flesh are the beards of the non-Han people.
JLPT HSK 5
ancient, old, paleo-

Ten and mouth . ( was derived from the image of a skull, therefore the meaning of old. Helpful is also the image of a grave mound)
Below the tomb stone is lying the 'old'.
JLPT HSK 6
What?, dialectal equivalent of 什么
shá
Left: mouth , right: house, home 舍 (The particular cover under which I become old , is my home.)
The mouth sees the home and asks: What?
JLPT HSK 6
withered, dried up

Left: tree , right: old (originally: skull, but better as the image of a tomb stone)
The tree is old and withered.
JLPT HSK 6
crime, sin, guilt

Top: old (originally: skull, but better the image of a tomb stone), below: bitter, sharp (tattoo needle)
The old and bitter are the guilt of the crimes.
JLPT HSK 6
apprehensive, to be fearful, tremble
jīng
Twice: subdue 克 (The old gets legs , when it is subdued)
Being doubly subdued is apprehensive.
JLPT no HSK
(exclamatory or interrogative particle)
zāi
Here, see top&right as variant of military (= with the ten [men] at the halberds ), below: mouth
At the military, out of the mouths comes a cry of exclamation. - Or: "An old halberd !", was what he exclaimed.)
JLPT no HSK
mumble, mutter, murmur

Left: mouth , right: old (originally: skull - better the image of a tomb stone)
A mouth that became old, can only: mumble.
JLPT no HSK
bottle-gourd, calabash, allium scorodoprasum

Top: plant , below: beard, non-Han-person (Like old flesh / are the beards of the non-Han people.)
(The skin can be used as a drinking-vessel.) The plant where the 'old body' is used: The bottle-gourd.
JLPT no HSK
mushroom

Top: plant , bottom: paternal aunt 姑 (the woman who is old )
The plants (collected) by the old women, are the: mushrooms.
JLPT no HSK
backbite

Left: mouth , right: old emperor 啇 (mix of emperor [He stands and is covered with cloth ] and is old )
From the mouth of the old emperor: a backbite.
JLPT no HSK
to buy, to sell, abbr. for Tianjin 天津 (also 津沽)

Left: water , right: old (originally: a skull but better as the image of a tomb stone)
If the water is old, we need to buy.
JLPT no HSK
skeleton, human skull

Left: skeleton (image of a vertebra, cover , body/flesh ), right: old (originally: a skull, but it's better to imagine a tomb stone)
The skeleton at the tomb stone: a skeleton.
JLPT no HSK
direct line of descent, son of first wife

Left: woman , right: old emperor (mélange of emperor [He stands and is covered with cloth ] and old )
The (first) wife of the old emperor stands for the line of descent.

Radicals are shown here that are similar either in appearance or meaning.

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