Japanese Conversation · Level 36
90 words
Japanese word
かつて
Pronunciation
Romajikatsute
Meaning
- adverbonce
Example
私はかつて東京に住んでいました。watashi wa ka tsu te tō kyō ni su n de i ma shi ta
I once lived in Tokyo.
More examples
祖父はかつてこの町で店を開いていました。so fu wa ka tsu te ko no machi de mise o hira i te i ma shi ta
My grandfather once ran a shop in this town.
Core concept
Places an event or state in an earlier period that is now over.
Common phrases
かつての職場ka tsu te no shoku ba
former workplace
Similar words
以前izen: At a time before the present or another stated time.
昔mukashi: At a time long before the present, often in a distant past.
Definition in Japanese
以前のある時期に。i zen no a ru ji ki ni
Word origin
The native adverb かつて (katsute, "once") is traditionally written 嘗て (katsute, "formerly"), but its older word formation is uncertain.
Usage tips
- The pattern かつては (katsute wa) often introduces a past situation that contrasts with the present.
Opposites
- 今imanowadverb