故人

Chinese

Pronunciation

Noun

故人

1. (literary) old friend
2. (literary) the dead; the deceased; the departed
3. (literary) former spouse or lover

   • 新人從門入　故人從閤去　新人工織縑　故人工織素 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     新人从门入　故人从𬮤去　新人工织缣　故人工织素 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Anonymous, 上山采蘼蕪

     xīnrén cóng mén rù, gùrén cóng gé qù, xīnrén gōng zhī jiān, gùrén gōng zhī sù

     My new wife enters from the front door; my former wife leaves from the side door.
     My new wife is skilled in weaving fine silk; my former wife is skilled in weaving raw silk.

   • 新人如花雖可寵，故人似玉由來重。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     新人如花虽可宠，故人似玉由来重。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tang dynasty, 李白 (Li Bai), 怨情

     Xīnrén rú huā suī kě chǒng, gùrén sì yù yóulái zhòng.

     Although my new lover is lovely like a flower, my old lover has always been dignified.

   • 士之有文，如女之有色；文之有先輩、時輩，如色之有故人、新人。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     士之有文，如女之有色；文之有先辈、时辈，如色之有故人、新人。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Ming dynasty, 譚友夏, 官子時文稿序

     Shì zhī yǒu wén, rú nǚ zhī yǒu sè; wén zhī yǒu xiānbèi, shíbèi, rú sè zhī yǒu gùrén, xīnrén.

     Gentlemen have literary talent, as ladies have beauty; those with literary talent may be elders or peers, as those who have beauty may be former or new lovers.

Synonyms

• (old friend):

• (the dead):

Japanese

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) こ​じん (Atamadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

故(こ)人(じん) • (kojin) ^{←こじん (kozin)?}

1. a deceased person
2. (archaic) an old friend; a friend from the past

Synonyms

• (deceased person): See Thesaurus:死人
• (old friend): 旧(きゅう)友(ゆう) (kyūyū)

References

Korean

Noun

故人 • (goin) (hangeul 고인)

1. Hanja form^? of 고인 (“deceased”).

Vietnamese

Noun

故人

1. chữ Hán form of cố nhân (“old friend”).