古 株(ふるかぶ)

ふるかぶ

noun

old-timer; veteran member; long-serving person

1. old-timer; veteran member; long-serving employee

A person who has been with an organization, company, or group for a long time. Implies experience, institutional knowledge, and sometimes resistance to change.

彼(かれ)はこの会社(かいしゃ)の古株(ふるかぶ)だ。

He's an old-timer at this company.

古株(ふるかぶ)の社員(しゃいん)から話(はなし)を聞(き)いた。

I heard the story from a veteran employee.

古株(ふるかぶ)と新人(しんじん)の間(あいだ)で意見(いけん)が分(わ)かれた。

Opinions were divided between the old-timers and the newcomers.

Etymology

古(ふる) (old) + 株(かぶ) (stump, stock)

The 株(かぶ) refers to the stump of a tree that remains after years - metaphorically, someone firmly rooted in a place through long tenure.

Usage

Can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context:

Positive: experienced, knowledgeable, reliable
Negative: set in their ways, resistant to change, territorial

Often contrasted with

新人(しんじん) - newcomer, new employee
新顔(しんがお) - new face
若手(わかて) - younger members

Common collocations

会社(かいしゃ)の古株(ふるかぶ) - company veteran
古株(ふるかぶ)の社員(しゃいん)/メンバー - veteran member
古株(ふるかぶ)ぶる - to act like an old-timer (slightly negative)

Similar words

ベテラン - veteran (loanword, generally positive)
古参(こさん) - old-timer (more formal)
先輩(せんぱい) - senior (focuses on hierarchy)
重鎮(じゅうちん) - influential veteran (high status)

Related Words

Antonym: 新顔(しんがお) (newcomer)

Antonym: 新米(しんまい) (newcomer)

Compare: ベテラン (veteran)

Compare: 古参(こさん) (old-timer)

Compare: 先輩(せんぱい) (senior)

general

Added 2026.1.19 22:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

07000/07457_furukabu