noun
old character form; kyūjitai; traditional kanji form
Refers to the traditional, pre-1946 kanji forms used in Japan, as opposed to the simplified 新字体 (shinjitai). Often used in discussions of orthography and historical texts.
See also: 新字体
「學」は「学」の旧字体です。
學 is the kyūjitai (old form) of 学.
この本は旧字体で書かれているので、読みにくい。
This book is written in old character forms, so it's hard to read.
新字体 is the modern simplified kanji form, while 旧字体 is the traditional form used before the 1946 reform.
Compound of 旧 (old) + 字体 (character form). The term became common after the 1946 kanji reform to distinguish pre-reform forms from the new simplified ones.