Spot 古
Find the repeated shape and notice where it sits before trying to memorize the whole character.
Visual pattern
古 component
gǔ · old, classic, ancient
A recurring visual building block found inside multiple Chinese characters. Compare what stays the same and what changes across the family.
A repeatable reading move
How to use 古
Use the component as a clue, then verify the complete character.
Compare the visual pattern
Use the stable shape to recognize the family, without assuming it always supplies meaning or sound.
Check what changes
Read the remaining component, then confirm the full pinyin, meaning, and stroke order on the character page.
Shared clue古Visual pattern
Read the pattern before memorizing the list
Use the shared shape as a recognition anchor, then confirm the full character's pronunciation and meaning.
The component page is a learning family; the radical page is a dictionary index. A shape can serve both roles.
Compare the family
What stays the same, what changes?
Each card keeps 古 visible while showing the other building blocks and the completed character.
苦=
艹
故=
+攵
估=
亻
诂=
讠
咕=
口
姑=
女
沽=
氵
固=
囗
岵=
山
怙=
忄
居=
户
轱=
车
Move into vocabulary
Words you can read next
These words contain characters from the 古 family. Open one to see its complete breakdown.
故事gùshi
narrative
HSK 3.0 · L3邻居línjūneighbor
HSK 3.0 · L3估计gūjìto estimate
HSK 3.0 · L4姑娘gūnianggirl
HSK 3.0 · L4故意gùyìdeliberately
HSK 3.0 · L4苦kǔbitter
HSK 3.0 · L4辛苦xīnkǔexhausting
HSK 3.0 · L4固定gùdìngto fix
HSK 3.0 · L5故乡gùxiānghome
HSK 3.0 · L5胡同hútònglane
HSK 3.0 · L5艰苦jiānkǔdifficult
HSK 3.0 · L5居民jūmínresident
HSK 3.0 · L5