昔 Long Ago

Meaning

Primary

Long Ago

Alternative

Long Time Ago

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. This is a good way to start stories, by the way: 昔々に… (Long, long ago).

Reading

むかし

Explanation

The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. むかし sounds like a kun'yomi reading, doesn't it? It's so long.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 昔から〜

  昔からある

  to have been there from long ago

  昔からいる

  to have been there from long ago

  昔から好き

  to have liked from long ago

• 昔は〜

  昔は好きだった

  used to like long ago

  昔はした

  used to do long ago

  昔はあった

  used to exist long ago

• 昔の〜

  昔の自分

  one's old self

  昔の人

  people of long ago

  昔の話

  story from long ago

Context Sentences

ここは昔、山だったんだよ。

This place used to be a mountain a long time ago.

コウイチはただの昔の友人です。

Koichi is just an old friend.

昔、一回だけ、テレビ画面にキスしたことがあるよ。

I once kissed the TV screen a long time ago.

Kanji Composition

1. 昔

   むかし Long Ago