Quick answer
旧 is the kanji for "Former". The most common reading is ふる.い (furui). Mnemonics and example sentences are listed below.
Meaning
Former
Also : Old · Old times
Learn 旧 with SRS
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Readings
kun = Japanese reading · on = Chinese reading
Practice writing
Trace the kanji stroke by stroke with a visual guide.
Stroke Order
5 strokes
Radicals
Memory Aid
The kanji 旧 represents 'OLD TIMES'. Think of this shape as a picture representing the concept of old times.
On-reading: きゅう — remember this sound by associating it with old times. Kun-reading: ふる.い.
Example Sentences
旧式の機械を新しいものに替えました。
きゅうしきのきかいをあたらしいものにかえました。
I replaced the old-style machine with a new one.
長年離ればなれだった旧友と再会して、あの頃の思い出が蘇りました。
ながねんはなればなれだったきゅうゆうとさいかいして、あのころのおもいでがよみがえりました。
Reuniting with an old friend after years apart brought back memories of those times.
Vocabulary using 旧
Grammar to study at this level
- [Noun] + に伴い～に伴い (ni tomonai) - Along with / In accordance with
- [Noun] + をはじめ～をはじめ (wo hajime) - Starting with / Including
- [Noun] + に応じて～に応じて (ni oujite) - According to / In response to
- [Noun] + から + [Noun] + にかけて～にかけて (ni kakete) - From...to / In the area of
- [Noun] + に限り～に限り (ni kagiri) - Limited to / Only
Last updated Jun 11, 2026
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