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一昔 (ひとむかし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
a while ago ; an age ago ; about a decade ago
Refers to a past period felt to be separated from the present. It can literally suggest roughly ten years ago, but often means more broadly 'a previous era' or 'a long time ago,' especially in 一昔前.
かた
は
もう
一ひと
昔むかし
前まえ
の
もの
だ
。
That way of thinking is already from a bygone era.
Written forms 一ひと 昔むかし Usage 67%
Standard kanji spelling; commonly seen in the phrase 一昔前.
ひと 昔むかし Usage 33%
Attested mixed kana-kanji spelling; useful when the writer wants the reading to be immediately clear.
Kanji 昔 once upon a time, antiquity, old times Similar words 昔むかし Broader and simpler word for 'the past' or 'long ago'; 一昔 emphasizes one step or era back from the present.
十じゅう 年ねん 前まえ Means exactly 'ten years ago'; 一昔 can imply about ten years but is often approximate and more subjective.
以い 前ぜん A general word for 'before' or 'previously'; 一昔 has a stronger feeling of an older period or outdated era.
Etymology A transparent compound of 一, 'one,' and 昔, 'old times' or 'the past.' The expression conventionally means one past period or era back; the exact length is context-dependent.
