昔
once upon a time · antiquity · old times
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of two suns stacked. Past days.
Symbolism
Past, old times, history. Represents past.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Flow of time
Component Breakdown
top-bottom: 廿 + sun
Words & Expressions
Words written with 昔
Four-Character Compounds
十年一昔
じゅうねんひとむかし
the pace of change makes ten years back seem like ancient history
Proverbs & Idioms
昔取った杵柄
むかしとったきねづか
Skills once learned are never forgotten
Expertise from the past remains with you
Poetry
誰をかも 知る人にせむ 高砂の 松も昔の 友ならなくに
Whom shall I take now as a friend? Even the ancient pine of Takasago is no friend from the old days.
人はいさ 心も知らず ふるさとは 花ぞ昔の 香に匂ひける
As for people, I cannot know their hearts — but in my old village the blossoms are fragrant as they always were.
あひ見ての のちの心に くらぶれば 昔は物を 思はざりけり
Compared with how my heart feels now, after meeting you, I had no idea before what longing was.
百敷や ふるき軒端の しのぶにも なほあまりある 昔なりけり
In the hart's-tongue fern on the old eaves of this hundred-fold palace there is a past too great to be contained.
Anime & Manga
転校先の清楚可憐な美少女が、昔男子と思って一緒に遊んだ幼馴染だった件
Oh Boy, Was I Wrong About Her
A well-known work with 昔 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“old times”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 昔 mean in Japanese?
昔 means once upon a time, antiquity, old times.
How do you read 昔?
On'yomi: セキ、シャク (SEKI, SHAKU). Kun'yomi: むかし (mukashi).
How many strokes does 昔 have?
昔 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 日 (sun).
Is 昔 a good kanji for a tattoo?
昔 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means once upon a time, antiquity, old times. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:old times