Translation guide
The English word "past" covers several distinct concepts: time before now, a person's history, a location beyond something, and a grammatical tense. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese equivalents.
Referring to a period of time that has already happened, in general or in relation to the present.
in the past · the past few days · past events · past experience
The most direct and common translation for 'the past' as a noun. Used in both formal and everyday contexts.
過去の出来事から学ぶことは大切だ。
It is important to learn from past events.
過去を振り返るのはやめよう。
Let's stop looking back at the past.
Refers to the distant past, often with a nostalgic or storytelling nuance. Common in casual speech.
昔、ここには森があった。
In the past, there was a forest here.
昔の人はもっと自然と共に生きていた。
People in the past lived more in harmony with nature.
Means 'up until now' or 'so far', emphasizing the period leading to the present. Often used with experience or achievements.
これまでの経験を活かしたい。
I want to make use of my past experience.
Specifically means 'the past few days'. For other time periods, replace 数日 with 数週間 (few weeks), 数ヶ月 (few months), etc.
ここ数日、体調が優れない。
I haven't been feeling well the past few days.
Means 'before' or 'previously'. Often used in more formal contexts or when comparing with the present.
以前はもっと活気があった。
In the past, it was more lively.
Referring to someone's personal history, experiences, or background, often with a connotation of secrets or checkered history.
a person with a past · checkered past · shady past
Literally 'has a past', implying a notable or possibly secret history. Often used for someone with a mysterious or troubled background.
彼には何か過去があるようだ。
He seems to have some kind of past.
Refers to one's career or personal history in a neutral or formal sense, like a resume.
彼の経歴は素晴らしい。
His past (career) is impressive.
Specifically 'dark past', used for a troubled or criminal history.
彼女は暗い過去を隠している。
She is hiding a dark past.
Describing movement that goes beyond a certain location or object.
walk past the store · drive past the school · go past the traffic light
Verb meaning 'to pass by' or 'go past'. The object is marked with を.
店を通り過ぎたら右に曲がってください。
After you go past the store, please turn right.
彼は私の家を通り過ぎて行った。
He walked past my house.
Literally 'pass in front of'. More casual and common in speech than 通り過ぎる.
毎日学校の前を通ります。
I go past the school every day.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to pass' (time or location). For location, it implies moving beyond a point.
駅を過ぎると景色が変わる。
Once you go past the station, the scenery changes.
Indicating a time after a certain point, especially on a clock.
half past three · ten past eight · quarter past twelve
Standard time-telling format. 'Half past three' is 3時30分 (さんじさんじゅっぷん). No direct equivalent of 'past'; simply state the minutes.
今、3時10分です。
It's ten past three now.
会議は8時半からです。
The meeting is from half past eight.
Suffix meaning 'past' (time). Attached to the hour. Common in casual speech.
3時10分過ぎに着いた。
I arrived a little past 3:10.
もう8時過ぎだよ。
It's already past eight.
Referring to the verb form that indicates an action or state in the past.
past tense · simple past · past participle
The standard term for 'past tense' in grammar.
英語の過去形は不規則なものが多い。
English past tense forms are often irregular.
More technical term for 'past tense' as a grammatical category.
日本語には厳密な過去時制がないと言われる。
It is said that Japanese does not have a strict past tense.
While 過去の means 'past' as an adjective, it can sound formal or stiff. For everyday phrases like 'past experience', これまでの経験 is often more natural than 過去の経験. Use 昔 for nostalgic or distant past.
昔 (むかし) is used for the distant past, often with a sense of nostalgia or storytelling. 過去 (かこ) is more neutral and can refer to any time before now, including recent past. In formal writing, 過去 is preferred.
昔、人々は地球が平らだと信じていた。
In the past, people believed the earth was flat.
彼女は挨拶もせずに私の前を通り過ぎた。
She walked past me without saying hello.