How to Say "I Used To" in Japanese

昔は

mukashi wa

In Japanese, "I used to" is expressed as 昔は (mukashi wa).

The phrase 昔は is used to describe a habit or a state that existed in the past but has since changed and is no longer true in the present.

Which one should you use?

Using 昔は (mukashi wa) instead of just 昔 (mukashi) emphasizes the contrast between how things were then and how they are now.

mukashi wa

Japanese folk tales almost always begin with 昔々, which is the word 昔 repeated twice. This is the equivalent of 'once upon a time' in English.
Japanese has a specific word, 懐かしい, to describe the feeling of nostalgia when remembering things from 昔. It translates to 'I miss it' but is often used as an exclamation when seeing an old object.
While 昔は describes the past, the word 昔 can be used as a noun meaning 'the old days'. A person can be described as 昔の人 to imply they are old-fashioned or outdated.

昔は先生してたんだ。
I used to be a teacher.
This sentence demonstrates using 昔は to describe a past profession.
Tatoeba #12146649 by small_snow, translation #2546806 by CK
昔はこの教会に通ってたよ。
I used to go to this church.
This sentence shows how to use 昔は to describe a past habit or routine.
Tatoeba #10181266 by small_snow, translation #10178975 by tsp_2
昔はホームレスだったんだ。
I used to be homeless.
This sentence illustrates using 昔は to describe a past state of being.
Tatoeba #12146634 by small_snow, translation #9973171 by shekitten
昔、よく友達と遊んだ。
I used to play often with friends in the past.
15 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are looking at old photographs.

美咲 Misaki

昔は、こんなに髪が長かったんだよ。
Mukashi wa, konna ni kami ga nagakatta n da yo.
I used to have such long hair.
陽太 Yota

本当だ、美咲さんはすごく可愛かったね。
Hontou da, Misaki-san wa sugoku kawai katta ne.
True, Misaki, you were very cute.
美咲 Misaki

陽太君も、昔はもっと細かったよ。
Youta-kun mo, mukashi wa motto hosokatta yo.
Youta, you used to be much thinner too.
陽太 Yota

あはは、よく覚えてるね。
Ahaha, yoku oboeteru ne.
Haha, you remember well.

Sources

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