昔

JLPT N3

Past

Readings

On’yomi: セキ, シャク (seki, shaku)

Kun’yomi: むかし (mukashi)

• むかし – old times, the past

Structure

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Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

昔

むかし

long ago

昔話

むかしばなし

folktale

大昔

おおむかし

ancient times

昔風

むかしふう

old-fashioned

昔日

せきじつ

former days

Example Sentences

昔の話です。

むかしのはなしです。

It is an old story.

昔話です。

むかしばなしです。

It is a folktale.

大昔です。

おおむかしです。

It was ancient times.

昔風です。

むかしふうです。

It is old-fashioned.

昔日を思う。

せきじつをおもう。

I recall the old days.

Cultural Note

📖 The word 昔 often appears in the classic storytelling phrase “昔々…” (“Mukashi mukashi…” – “Once upon a time…”), used to begin Japanese folk tales (昔話). It’s deeply tied to Japanese oral tradition, carrying warmth, nostalgia, and a connection to ancestral wisdom.