How to Write 古 (gǔ) — Meaning “ancient”

Q: Can you suggest a memory technique to remember 古?

Think of "ten (十) mouths (口) telling old tales." The idea of multiple voices passing down history helps connect the shape to the meaning of ancient.

Q: What are writing tips for 古?

Write the horizontal stroke of 十 first, then the vertical stroke, and finally the 口 below. Keep the vertical stroke centered and do not let it touch the top of 口—a common mistake is making it too long.

Q: How is 古 different from 卟 and 口?

古 has a 十 above 口 and means ancient. 卟 is a rare character with 口 on the left and 卜 on the right, used for sounds. 口 is just a square meaning mouth. Visually, 古 has the extra cross strokes on top.

Q: When is 古 used in modern Chinese?

古 appears in words like 古代 (gǔ dài, ancient times) and 古老 (gǔ lǎo, ancient/old). It is also used in 古典 (gǔ diǎn, classical) for traditional music or literature, and often refers to historical periods or ancient culture.

Q: What common words use 古?

Common words containing 古 include: 古代 (gǔ dài) — Ancient times; 古老 (gǔ lǎo) — Ancient; old; 古典 (gǔ diǎn) — Classical.

gǔ HSK Level 3 5 strokes Radical: 口

古 (gǔ) means "ancient" in Chinese. It has 5 strokes with the radical 口, and is HSK Level 3.

Rated 2.9/5 in difficulty (moderate).

Harder than 22% of HSK Level 3 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 古代 (gǔ dài), 古老 (gǔ lǎo), 古典 (gǔ diǎn).

Hanzi Writer's stroke validation shows learners typically need 5-8 attempts to write 古 with correct proportion and order.

Practice Writing 古 (gǔ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 古 with real-time feedback.

App Store ▶ Google Play

How to Write 古

The character 古 (gǔ) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 口 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does gǔ (古) Mean in Chinese?

古 means ancient.

As an HSK Level 3 character, 古 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character	古
Pinyin	gǔ (gu)
Meaning	ancient
Strokes	5
Radical	口
HSK Level	3
Difficulty	2.9/5

Origin of 古

古 combines 十 (ten) and 口 (mouth), suggesting 'ten mouths' passing down stories through many generations, symbolizing ancient traditions. In oracle bone script, it depicted a shield (十) over a mouth, representing the protection of ancestral words.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture ten mouths (十 over 口) all chanting old stories together—that's ancient history itself.

Common Words with 古

古代 gǔ dài

Ancient times

古老 gǔ lǎo

Ancient; old

古典 gǔ diǎn

Classical

Example Sentences

他很喜欢研究古代历史。

tā hěn xǐ huān yán jiū gǔ dài lì shǐ

He likes studying ancient history.

这是一个古老的城市。

zhè shì yí gè gǔ lǎo de chéng shì

This is an ancient city.

我爱听古典音乐。

wǒ ài tīng gǔ diǎn yīn yuè

I love listening to classical music.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
古 (current)	gǔ	5	口
卟	bǔ	5	口
口	kǒu	3	口
句	gōu / jù	5	口

Practice Writing 古 (gǔ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 古 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 古

What are the components of 古 and how do they relate to its meaning?

古 is made of 十 (ten) on top and 口 (mouth) below. This structure can be imagined as "ten mouths" sharing stories from long ago, so it means ancient.

Can you suggest a memory technique to remember 古?

What are writing tips for 古?

How is 古 different from 卟 and 口?

When is 古 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 古?

How to Write 古 (gǔ) — Meaning “ancient”

Practice Writing 古 (gǔ)

How to Write 古

What Does gǔ (古) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 古

Common Words with 古

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 古 (gǔ)

Frequently Asked Questions about 古

More HSK Level 3 Characters

Characters with Radical 口

Other 5-Stroke Characters