Meaning
故 is a classical Chinese character with multiple related meanings. As an adjective it means 'old' or 'former'. As a noun it means 'reason', 'cause', or 'incident'. As a conjunction it means 'therefore' or 'hence'. It appears frequently in formal or literary contexts and in set expressions.
Usage
故 is common in formal writing, idioms, and compound words but rarely used alone in casual speech. When used as 'therefore', it appears in classical-style writing or formal announcements. It's very productive in compounds like 故事 (story), 故乡 (hometown), 故意 (intentionally).
Examples
- 01他故意不告诉我真相。.He intentionally didn't tell me the truth.
- 02我很想念故乡的风景。.I really miss the scenery of my hometown.
Common collocations
- 故事story
- 故乡hometown
- 故意intentionally, on purpose
- 事故accident
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 古 (ancient) and 攵 (action/strike), originally suggesting an action from ancient times or old matters. Over time it developed meanings of 'cause', 'reason', and 'therefore'.