懐旧
kaikyū
Nostalgia is translated into Japanese as 懐旧 (kaikyū). If unsure, use 懐旧. It is also spelled ノスタルジー (nosutarujī). Wiktionary also lists ノスタルジア (nosutarujia).
Meaning: bittersweet yearning for the things of the past (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 懐旧 | kaikyū | ||
| ノスタルジー | nosutarujī | [no̞sɨta̠ɾɯ̟ʑiː] (narrow) | alternative form |
| ノスタルジア | nosutarujia | [no̞sɨta̠ɾɯ̟ʑia̠] (narrow) |
The word 懐旧 refers to a bittersweet yearning for the past. It is frequently used in the expression 懐旧の念 (kaikyū no nen), where 念 (nen) means feeling or thought, to describe the actual sensation of nostalgia. If you wish to express nostalgia specifically through the lens of memories of one's birthplace, the phrase ふるさとの面影 (furusato no omokage), meaning traces of one's hometown, is often used.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 懐旧 is composed of two characters: 懐, which means to yearn for or hold in one's heart and 旧, which means old or past.
Which one should you use?
ノスタルジア (nosutarujia) is the standard way to write the concept using Katakana, while ノスタルジー serves as an alternative spelling.
How do you pronounce it?
kaikyū
Did you know?
- The character 懐 in 懐旧 is also used in the word for 'pocket', as a pocket is seen as a place where things are held close to the heart.
- Unlike the English 'nostalgia', which often implies a sad longing, the Japanese sentiment of 懐かしい is frequently used as a positive and joyful reaction to a rediscovered object or memory.
- The Katakana version ノスタルジー is actually borrowed from French rather than English. This spelling is quite common in Japanese literature and music to add a certain artistic or European flair.
Examples in context
- 生まれ故郷を目にして懐旧の念に堪えなかった。At the sight of my hometown I was overcome with nostalgia.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 懐旧 to describe being overcome by a feeling of nostalgia.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are looking at old photos from their childhood.
- 結衣 Yuiこの写真を見ていると、懐旧の念が湧いてくるね。Kono shashin o mite iru to, kaikyū no nen ga waite kuru ne.Looking at these photos brings back a sense of nostalgia, doesn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に。あの頃は毎日が楽しかったな。Hontō ni. Ano koro wa mainichi ga tanoshikatta na.It really does. Every day was so much fun back then.
- 結衣 Yuiもう戻れないと思うと、少し切ないよ。Mō modorenai to omou to, sukoshi setsunai yo.It's a bit sad to think we can't go back.
- 大翔 Hirotoでも、いい思い出だよね。Demo, ii omoide da yo ne.But they are great memories, aren't they?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nostalgia” translations and entries 懐旧, ノスタルジー, ノスタルジア, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ノスタルジア, ノスタルジー, 懐旧, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
