私が〜だった頃
watashi ga ~ datta koro
The English phrase "when I was" is expressed in Japanese using 私が〜だった頃 (watashi ga ~ datta koro).
This phrase is used to introduce a description of a past state or a specific period of time in one's life, such as a certain era or stage like "when I was a student" or "when I was a child".
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 私が〜だった頃 means "the time/period when I was ~".
Which one should you use?
While 私が〜だった時 also means "when", the form using koro emphasizes a continuous period or era rather than a specific point in time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word datta is the past tense of the copula da, which is required to link a noun or adjective to the time period.
How do you pronounce it?
watashi ga ~ datta koro
Did you know?
- Depending on the speaker's gender and social status, watashi might be replaced by boku or ore. Using ore in this phrase marks the speaker as very masculine or informal, which significantly changes the tone of the nostalgia.
- The word koro (頃) is often used to evoke a sense of nostalgia or a 'golden age' in storytelling. Using it instead of the more common toki can make your description of the past sound more poetic and sentimental.
- The word koro can be used to express a vague approximation of time, such as san-ji goro for 'around 3 o'clock'. This reflects the word's inherent meaning of an approximate area or window of time.
Examples in context
- 私が子供の頃、毎年夏に海で泳ぐことが好きでした。When I was a child, I used to enjoy swimming in the sea every summer.
- 子供の頃、毎年夏に海で泳ぐのが好きだったんだ。When I was a child, I used to love swimming in the sea every summer.
- 私が若い頃は、日本の伝統的な文化に興味を持っていました。When I was young, I had an interest in traditional Japanese culture.
- 若い頃は、日本の伝統的な文化に興味があったんだよ。When I was young, I was interested in traditional Japanese culture.
