古い

• Reading: ふるい
• Romaji: furui
• Kanji breakdown: 古 (furu/ko) — old, ancient, antiquated
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.ɾɯ.i/

Meaning

Old; aged; ancient; antiquated. Describes something that has existed for a long time.

An i-adjective that is the antonym of 新しい. Used for objects, buildings, traditions, and styles — but never for people (年を取った or 年配の is used instead). Conjugates regularly: 古くない, 古かった, 古くなかった. Can carry either a negative nuance (outdated) or a positive one (time-honoured).

Examples

1. この建物はとても古いです。 This building is very old.
2. 古いアルバムを見つけました。 I found an old photo album.
3. 兄の自転車は古いけど、まだ使えます。 My older brother's bicycle is old, but it still works.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, history, descriptions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 古 combines 十 (ten) and 口 (mouth), suggesting something that has been spoken about through ten generations — something old.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal