[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Abstract-Concepts \ #Time-and-Space # 古 gǔ ancient; age-old ## Components [[十 shí]] [[十 (shí)]] [[口 kǒu]] [[口 (kǒu)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "古" primarily means "ancient" or "old." It refers to something from ancient times or the past. Additionally, it can be used to describe someone or something as old-fashioned or traditional. ## History "古" is an ideogram, meaning ancient or old. In oracle bone script, the upper part of the character resembles the character "十" (ten), indicating a large number. The lower part, "口," represents generations passing down oral traditions. In bronze script, "古" changed slightly, with the upper part becoming "十" and the lower part remaining "口." In modern Chinese, "古" is often used to refer to ancient times or antiquity. It's also used to describe someone with old-fashioned or rigid thinking, as in "古怪" (eccentric) or "古板" (stiff and old-fashioned). ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[古 gǔ - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[古 gǔ - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[古 gǔ - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[古 gǔ -cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[古 gǔ - reg.svg]]