1.
older work; previous work; back catalog title
A creative work (film, book, album, game, etc.) from an earlier period, as opposed to a new release. Commonly used in entertainment and media contexts to refer to titles no longer considered current.
旧作のDVDを借りた。
I rented a DVD of an older title.
レンタルショップでは旧作のほうが安い。
At the rental shop, older titles are cheaper.
彼の旧作を全部読んでから新作に取りかかった。
I read all of his previous works before starting on the new one.
この監督の旧作は今でも高く評価されている。
This director's older works are still highly regarded.
Composed of 旧 (old, former) and 作 (work, production). The direct antonym is 新作 (new work/release), and the two are frequently contrasted.
The word is neutral in tone — it simply indicates that a work is not new, without implying that it is outdated or inferior. In fact, 旧作 is often used when recommending older titles that are worth revisiting.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 旧作を観る: to watch an older film
- 旧作レンタル: rental of older titles
- 旧作セール: sale on back catalog titles
- 旧作も名作が多い: many older works are masterpieces too
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 新作: new work, new release — the direct opposite
- 前作: previous work — specifically the one immediately before the current one, not older works in general
- 名作: masterpiece — a quality judgment rather than a time-based classification