過去形
kakokei[ka̠ko̞ke̞ː]
The English phrase "past tense" can be translated into Japanese as 過去形 (kakokei) or 過去時制.
Meaning: grammatical form (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 過去時制 | kako jisei | |
| 過去形 | kakokei | [ka̠ko̞ke̞ː] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
While 過去形 (kakokei) refers specifically to the 'past form' of a word, 過去時制 (kako jisei) refers more broadly to the 'past tense' as a grammatical system or time period.
How do you pronounce it?
kakokei
Did you know?
- There is a linguistic phenomenon where using the 過去形 can actually make a request sound more polite or hesitant by distancing the speaker from the current moment.
- The word 形 (kei) in 過去形 means 'shape' or 'form', which is why Japanese describes grammatical categories as the 'shape' of words.
- The word 過去 (kako) used in 過去時制 can also be used in a non-grammatical sense to mean 'the bygone days' or 'the past' in a philosophical or historical context.
Examples in context
- ドイツ語は、過去形ですか？現在形ですか？Is the German in past tense, or is it in present?This sentence is useful for asking whether German is in the 過去形 or the present tense.Tatoeba #11718481 by small_snow, translation #11760978 by end
- “do”の過去形は“did”だ。The past tense of “do” is “did.”This sentence is useful for stating the 過去形 of the word 'do'.
- 過去の動作については過去形を用います。"Past tense" is used in connection with actions in the past.This sentence is useful for explaining that the 過去形 is used for actions in the past.Tatoeba #75207 by fcbond, translation #328512 by fcbond
Example conversation
A student asks a teacher about a grammar point.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの動詞の過去形は何ですか？Kono doushi no kakokei wa nan desu ka?What is the past tense of this verb?
- 美咲 Misakiそれは「食べた」という過去形ですよ。Sore wa 'tabeta' to iu kakokei desu yo.That is the past tense form, 'tabeta'.
- 大翔 Hirotoなるほど、わかりました。Naruhodo, wakarimashita.I see, I understand.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、頑張ってくださいね。Hai, ganbatte kudasai ne.Yes, please keep doing your best.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “past tense” translations and entries 過去時制, 過去形, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 過去形, 過去時制, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
