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.

NUANCE:

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(めんばー) - veteran member
  • 古株(ふるかぶ)ぶる - to act like an old-timer (slightly negative)

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 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)
general
Added 2026.1.19 22:50 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07457_furukabu