懐かしい
natsukashii[na̠t͡sɨ̥ka̠ɕiː]
The Japanese word for nostalgic is 懐かしい (natsukashii), which is used to describe things that bring back memories.
While the English word 'nostalgic' can sometimes imply a bittersweet or melancholic longing, 懐かしい is frequently used to express a positive, warm sense of 'this brings back good memories' when encountering something from the past.
Meaning: pertaining to nostalgia (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
懐かしい is an i-adjective. It can end a sentence in its dictionary form or directly modify a noun by adding と (for example, 懐かしい思い出 for nostalgic memories). To express that something was nostalgic in the past, use the past tense form 懐かしかった.
How do you pronounce it?
natsukashii
Did you know?
- Because the word originally implied keeping something close to one's bosom, the kanji 懐 can also refer to the front of a kimono where items were tucked away.
- While 懐かしい describes the feeling of nostalgia, the related word 懐く refers specifically to an animal or child becoming fond of and clinging to a person.
- In Japanese, 懐かしい is frequently used as a standalone exclamation when seeing an old toy or photo, functioning more like 'Wow, remember this!' than a descriptive adjective.
Examples in context
- 懐かしいな。I'm feeling nostalgic.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are feeling nostalgic using 懐かしい.Tatoeba #10087566 by small_snow, translation #10139360 by ddnktr
- このゲーム、めっちゃ懐かしい。This game is so nostalgic.This sentence shows how to use 懐かしい to describe a game that brings back memories.Tatoeba #10087591 by small_snow, translation #9418508 by DJ_Saidez
- 夕暮れの商店街を歩くと、どこか懐かしい気持ちになる。There's something nostalgic about walking the shopping district in the evening.This sentence illustrates how walking through a shopping district in the evening can evoke a nostalgic feeling using 懐かしい.Tatoeba #13179928 by Gardenia, translation #13363309 by brightblackhole
- 懐かしい思い出（おもいで）ですね。That's a nostalgic memory, isn't it?
- あの場所に行くと懐かしさが込み上げてきます。When I visit that place, a sense of nostalgia wells up.
- この写真見ると、なつかしくなるな。Looking at this photo makes me nostalgic.
- あの頃の音楽を聴くと懐かしい気持ちになる。Listening to the music from that time makes me feel nostalgic.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are looking at an old childhood photo album.
- 結衣 Yuiこの写真、すごく懐かしいね！kono shashin, sugoku natsukashii ne!This photo is so nostalgic!
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に。僕たちも子供だったね。hontou ni. bokutachi mo kodomo datta ne.Truly. We were just children then.
- 結衣 Yui大翔君は、この場所を覚えてる？hiroto-kun wa, kono basho o oboeteru?Hiroto, do you remember this place?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、よく遊んだよ。un, yoku asonda yo.Yeah, I used to play there often.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nostalgic” translations and entries 懐かしい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
