gu2古
Jyutpinggu2
Yalegú
Definition
Ancient; age-old; referring to the remote past.
neutraldescriptionstime
How it's used
Focus on the distinction between historical age and simply being old or worn out. While 古 refers to things from a distant past or traditional styles, use 舊 to describe objects that are physically old, worn, or no longer new. Pairing it with 裝 creates a common compound for period dramas, which is a staple of Hong Kong television culture.
Examples
There are many ancient buildings here.
Do you prefer watching period dramas or modern ones?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 古 to describe a person who is old in age, as that would be 老. Using 古 to describe a person implies they are old fashioned or stuck in the past, which can sound critical.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
