古めかしい

• Reading: ふるめかしい
• Romaji: furumekashii
• Kanji breakdown: 古 (furu) — old, ancient; めかしい (suffix) — having the air of
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯɾɯmekäɕiː/

Meaning

Old-fashioned; antiquated; having the feel or appearance of an earlier era.

An i-adjective formed by combining 古 (old) with the suffix めかしい (having the air or appearance of). It is more neutral than 時代遅れ (behind the times) and can carry a nostalgic or charming quality. 古めかしい外観 or 古めかしい言葉遣い may be described with fondness rather than criticism.

Examples

1. 古めかしい外観の喫茶店が地元の人々に長年愛されている。 An old-fashioned-looking coffee shop has been beloved by locals for many years.
2. 彼の古めかしい言葉遣いはかえって上品な印象を与えた。 His antiquated way of speaking actually gave an impression of elegance.
3. 古めかしい街並みが残る地区は国内外の観光客に人気がある。 The district where old-fashioned streetscapes remain is popular with tourists from home and abroad.

Usage Guide

Context: architecture, language, nostalgia, culture

Tone: nostalgic

Origin & History

Derived from 古 (old, ancient) combined with the suffix めかしい, which conveys the appearance or air of something. This suffix attaches to nouns or adjective stems to create adjectives meaning resembling or having the quality of. Compare: 大人めかしい (acting grown-up).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal