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道Nihongo Path
旧

旧·old, former, ex-

On-yomi
キュウ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

5 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
旧友きゅうゆうold friend
復旧ふっきゅうrestoration, recovery
旧姓きゅうせいmaiden name, former surname
新旧しんきゅうnew and old

Example sentences

  1. 駅の近くで旧友に会った。

    えきのちかくできゅうゆうにあった。

    I ran into an old friend near the station.

  2. 電車は三時間後に復旧した。

    でんしゃはさんじかんごにふっきゅうした。

    Train service was restored three hours later.

  3. 書類には旧姓も書いてください。

    しょるいにはきゅうせいもかいてください。

    Please write your former surname on the form as well.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 復旧 as *ふくきゅう — it is ふっきゅう
  • Using 旧 for 'old' of objects; things that are merely aged are 古い, while 旧 means 'former, previous'

Memory aid

Picture it

A day (日) with a walking stick leaning beside it — days that have already passed.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 旧 mean?