pre-noun adjectival
Literary pre-noun adjectival meaning 'past' or 'former', used to refer to a time, state, or thing that once existed. Often appears in nostalgic or reflective contexts.
pre-noun adjectival
when one was alive; during one's lifetime
Specifically refers to the time when someone was alive, often used in eulogistic or memorial contexts. The person is typically deceased.
Memories of past days come back to me.
I see his/her former appearance in a photograph.
I remember my father as he was when he was alive.
I can't forget her smile from when she was alive.
past days; bygone days; days of yore · while still alive; during one's lifetime
Standard kanji spelling for this literary pre-noun adjectival.
Alternate kanji spelling; less common than 在りし.
Derived from the classical Japanese verb あり (to be, to exist) in its 連体形 (attributive form) ありし, which functioned as a pre-noun adjectival. The kanji 在 is used for existence in a place or state, while 有 is used for possession or occurrence; both are acceptable here.