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昔
old times · the past · ancient times
N3Kun: むかし
Memory Aid
The kanji 昔 combines 日 (sun, day) with a top part that visually suggests a 'sun buried under layers of time' or 'many days gone by'. It represents things from 'old times'.
'Mukashi' — Sounds like 'MOO CASH', reminding you of 'much cash' that people might have had in the 'old days' before modern times.
Vocabulary
昔話むかしばなしfolktale, old story
大昔おおむかしancient times, remote past
昔々むかしむかしonce upon a time (used to start stories)
昔からむかしからsince ancient times, from way back
Example Sentences
昔、この場所には大きな湖がありました。
Long ago, there was a big lake in this place.
子供の頃、祖母がよく昔話をしてくれました。
When I was a child, my grandmother often told me old stories.
大昔には恐竜が地球に住んでいました。
Dinosaurs lived on Earth in ancient times.
このお祭りはずっと昔から続いています。
This festival has continued since long ago.