Old school
Meaning: Classic, traditional, or from an earlier era — used with respect and admiration.
Old school means something from a previous generation, but with a positive connotation of authenticity and quality. An 'old-school rapper' respects the roots of hip-hop. 'Old-school cool' means timeless style. It's the opposite of dismissing something as outdated — it's a badge of honor.
Examples
- My dad is old school — he still listens to vinyl records. 我爸很老派——他到现在还听黑胶唱片。Mi padre es de la vieja escuela — todavía escucha discos de vinilo.うちの父親はオールドスクール——まだレコードで聴いてる。우리 아버지는 올드스쿨이야 — 아직도 바이닐로 음악을 들으셔.
- That's an old-school hip-hop track right there. 那是一首正宗的老派嘻哈曲目。Eso es un tema de hip-hop de la vieja escuela, sin duda.それはまさにオールドスクールなヒップホップトラックだ。이건 정통 올드스쿨 힙합 트랙이야.
- I love old-school action movies — practical stunts, no CGI. 我喜欢老派动作片——实打实的特技,没有CGI。Me encantan las películas de acción de la vieja escuela — acrobacias reales, sin CGI.オールドスクールなアクション映画が好き——CGIなし、リアルなスタント。올드스쿨 액션 영화가 좋아 — CGI 없이 실제 스턴트로 찍은 거.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: music, culture, compliments, nostalgia
Tone: respectful, admiring
✓ Do Say
- That's old school.那是老派风格。Eso es de la vieja escuela.それはオールドスクールだね。그건 올드스쿨이지.
- He's got that old-school mentality.他有那种老派精神。Tiene esa mentalidad de la vieja escuela.彼にはオールドスクールな精神がある。그 사람은 올드스쿨 마인드를 가지고 있어.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use to mean 'outdated' negatively — old school carries respect. Use 'dated' or 'obsolete' for negative meanings不要用来表达贬义的'过时'——old school带有尊敬之意。想表达负面含义时用'dated'或'obsolete'No lo uses para decir «anticuado» en sentido negativo — old school implica respeto. Usa «desfasado» u «obsoleto» para connotaciones negativasネガティブに「時代遅れ」という意味では使わないこと。オールドスクールには敬意が込められている。ネガティブな意味には「dated」や「obsolete」を使う。부정적인 의미로 '구식'이라고 쓰지 마 — 올드스쿨은 존경을 담고 있어. 부정적으로 말하려면 'dated'나 'obsolete'를 써
Origin & History
From African American English in the 1970s-80s, originally used in hip-hop to distinguish early pioneers from newer artists. Quickly expanded to describe anything from a respected earlier era.
Cultural Context
Era: 1970s-1980s
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from Music & Entertainment
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free