旧(きゅう)

きゅう
prefix
old; former; ex-
1. old; former; ex-; previous
A prefix meaning 'old' or 'former,' attached to nouns to indicate something that has been replaced or is no longer current. Contrasts with 新 (new).
旧姓(きゅうせい)は田中(たなか)です。
My maiden name is Tanaka.
この建物(たてもの)は旧校舎(きゅうこうしゃ)を改装(かいそう)したものだ。
This building is a renovated old school building.
旧友(きゅうゆう)と十年(じゅうねん)ぶりに再会(さいかい)して、昔話(むかしばなし)に花(はな)が咲(さ)いた。
I met an old friend for the first time in ten years, and we had a lively chat about old times.

A common prefix meaning 'old' or 'former,' used in a wide range of formal and everyday compounds. Contrasts with 新(しん) (new).

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 旧姓(きゅうせい) — maiden name, former surname
  • 旧友(きゅうゆう) — old friend
  • 旧暦(きゅうれき) — old (lunar) calendar
  • 旧校舎(きゅうこうしゃ) — old school building
  • 旧式(きゅうしき) — old-fashioned, outdated
  • 旧市街(きゅうしがい) — old town, old city center
  • 旧正月(きゅうしょうがつ) — Lunar New Year
  • 旧約聖書(きゅうやくせいしょ) — Old Testament

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 元(もと) — former, ex- (less formal; used with people: 元彼(もとかれ) 'ex-boyfriend')
  • 古(ふる) — old (in the sense of aged/worn, not 'former')
  • 前(ぜん) — previous, former (e.g., 前社長(ぜんしゃちょう) 'former president')

NOTE:
旧(きゅう) is more formal and literary than 元(もと). It emphasizes that something has been officially replaced or superseded, while 元(もと) is more casual and commonly used for personal relationships.

Related Words

Antonym: 新(しん) (new)
general
Added 2026.3.25 19:10
19000/19346_kyuu