今は昔

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term
いま
Grade: 2
むかし
Grade: 3
kun’yomi

Etymology

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Literally, now [in] the past.

Idiom

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(いま)(むかし) (ima wa mukashi

  1. (archaic) used in the beginning of narratives or story literature: once upon a time, long ago
    • c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori Monogatari
      (いま)(むかし)(たけ)(とり)(をきな)といふ(もの)ありけり。
      Ima wa mukashi, Taketori no Okina to iu mono arikeri.
      Once upon a time, there was a man who is called Taketori no Okina [old man who harvests bamboo].

Synonyms

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