古 (gǔ) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 古 (gǔ) mean in Chinese?

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

Q: How do you write 古 stroke by stroke?

古 has 5 strokes. The radical is 口. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 古 and 卟?

古 (gǔ) and 卟 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 古?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 口. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

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.

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.

Meaning & Pronunciation

古 is pronounced gǔ in Mandarin Chinese. It means ancient.

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

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

卟 bǔ

口 kǒu

句 gōu

Practice Writing 古 (gǔ)

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 古

What does 古 (gǔ) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 古 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 古 and 卟?

What mistakes do learners make writing 古?

What common words use 古?

How to Write 古 (gǔ)