Japanese word

ひところ

Pronunciation

Romajihitokoro

Meaning

  • nounformerly

Example

ひところはここに駅がありました。hi to ko ro wa ko ko ni eki ga a ri ma shi ta

There used to be a station here.

Illustration for ひところ (formerly)

More examples

この歌手はひところ大人気でした。ko no ka shu wa hi to ko ro dai nin ki de shi ta

This singer was once very popular.

Core concept

Points to one identifiable stretch of past time rather than to the distant past in general.

Common phrases

  • ひところはhi to ko ro wa

    once

  • ひところの人気hi to ko ro no nin ki

    former popularity

Similar words

かつてkatsute: Points to a past time without identifying a specific period or date.
一時ichiji: A particular period in the past, often marked by a certain situation or condition.
以前izen: Indicates an earlier time in relation to a person, event, or point in time.

Definition in Japanese

過去の一時期。ka ko no ichi ji ki

Word origin

ひところ (hitokoro) comes from 一頃 (hitokoro), a compound of 一 (hito, "one") and 頃 (koro, "time or period"), so it literally indicates one particular period.

Usage tips

  • Unlike words for the distant past, ひところ (hitokoro) can refer to a relatively recent period, as in ひところは (hitokoro wa) for "at one time."

Other meanings

  • some time agonoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word