例ためし

た

め

し

Meanings

Refers to a past case or instance that serves as a reference, often in negative constructions like ためしがない (there is no precedent / it has never happened).

こんなに早はやく雪ゆきが降ふったためしはない。
There is no precedent for snow falling this early.
彼かれが約やく束そくを守まもったためしがない。
He has never kept a promise.

Usage patterns

〈動どう詞し〉たためしがないthere is no precedent of ever having done/happened
彼かれが約やく束そくの時じ間かんに来きたためしがない。
He has never once come at the promised time.

Expressions

ためしがないhas never happened; there is no precedent

Kanji

例example, custom, usage
様Esq., way, manner

Related words

前ぜん例れいN1
前例 is the standard, neutral word for 'precedent' used in everyday and formal contexts, while 例（ためし）is an older, more literary word almost always appearing in negative phrases like 例がない.

Don't confuse with

例れいN5
例（れい）is the common, everyday reading meaning 'example' in general contexts, whereas 例（ためし）is a rarer reading restricted mainly to set phrases about past precedents.

Written forms

例ためし
Standard kanji spelling for this meaning.
様ためし
Rare variant; 例 is strongly preferred in modern Japanese.
例ためし
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; not standard.

Etymology

The reading ためし is a native Japanese word (kun'yomi) attached to the kanji 例, which carries the meaning of 'example' or 'precedent'.