最 古(さいこ)

さいこ

noun, no-adjective

oldest

1. oldest; earliest

Being the oldest of its kind. Usually followed by の, as in 日本(にほん)最古(さいこ)の (the oldest in Japan), and used for buildings, records, writings and fossils.

世界(せかい)最古(さいこ)の木造(もくぞう)建築(けんちく)。

The world's oldest wooden building.

これは日本(にほん)で最古(さいこ)の歌集(かしゅう)だ。

This is the oldest poetry anthology in Japan.

発掘(はっくつ)された土器(どき)は、この地域(ちいき)で見(み)つかった中(なか)で最古(さいこ)のものだと考(かんが)えられている。

The excavated pottery is thought to be the oldest ever found in this region.

Written-style word; in conversation people more often say 一番(いちばん)古(ふる)い.

Common collocations

日本(にほん)最古(さいこ)の〜: the oldest ... in Japan
世界(せかい)最古(さいこ): the oldest in the world
現存(げんそん)する最古(さいこ)の〜: the oldest surviving ...

Similar words

最新(さいしん): newest, latest (the opposite)
最初(さいしょ): first

Related Words

Antonym: 最新(さいしん) (newest, latest)

Compare: 最初(さいしょ) (first)

general

Added 2026.10.3 4:33 · Revised 2026.10.3 4:36

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