Mnemonic
A stick jammed into the earth beside the sun creates a shadow clock — the most ancient timepiece ever known. Watching its shadow creep across the dirt takes you back to Old Times, when this was humanity's only way to measure the passing hours.
Additional thoughts
The stick is the vertical stroke on the left; the sun is the enclosed box on the right. Together they form a primitive sundial — the definitive symbol of a bygone era. Sundial equals Old Times.Quick recall
A stick casting shadows from the sun — a sundial pulling you back to Old Times.Details
The keyword for 旧 is old times. This kanji refers to things that are former, previous, or from the past, carrying a sense of what once was. It is used to describe something that has been replaced or superseded, such as an old system, a former name, or a past era. Unlike other kanji meaning simply "old" in terms of age or wear, 旧 specifically evokes the notion of something belonging to an earlier time that has since changed.
- On'yomi
- きゅう
- Kun'yomi
- ふる.い、もと