古～
ふる～ · furu～ · JLPT N2 · noun
old
🏺 古 (furu) + 着 (gi) = 古着 furugi: old + wear = secondhand clothes
The prefix furu- marks anything used or worn before. 古本 furuhon is a used book and 古道具 furudougu is an antique tool. Each is old plus the noun.
古 — ten 十 + mouth 口
古 is traditionally analyzed as 十 (ten) over 口 (mouth), suggesting words passed down through ten generations — hence 'ancient' or 'old.' Some scholars view the top as a stylized helmet or skull shape in oracle bone forms. The core meaning of 'ancient, old, former times' has remained stable since early Chinese writing.