The Chinese Radical: 古


Hanzi-Trainer
Search:
 
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.

At the page you get the memory phrases for learning the Chinese Hanzi. If you are learning the Japanese kanji, please follow this link.



List of the characters | List of the radicals
Get the app of the Hanzi-Trainer!

The app has many other functions, such as character selection according to difficulty, practice programs, handwriting recognition and success statistics!

To the Trainer