Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

古 (いにしえ, inishie) Japanese meaning: antiquity | Kotomora

古いにしえ

い

に

し

え

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

antiquity; ancient times; bygone days

poetical term

Poetic or literary term for the distant past, often with a nostalgic or romantic nuance. Used in historical, literary, and reflective contexts.

いにしえの

人ひと

々びと

は

星ほし

を

頼たよ

り

に

旅たび

を

し

た

。

People of ancient times traveled by relying on the stars.

この神しん殿でんは古いにしえの時じ代だいから残のこっている。

This temple has remained since ancient times.

Usage patterns

古いにしえの〈事こと〉〉an event/story from ancient times
この神じん社じゃには古いにしえの伝でん説せつが残のこっている。
This shrine still preserves a legend from ancient times.
古いにしえよりsince ancient times
この儀ぎ式しきは古いにしえより続つづいている。
This ritual has continued since ancient times.

Kanji

古old
往journey, travel, chase away

Related words

古こ代だいN1
古代 is the standard, neutral historical term for ancient times, while 古 is a poetic, nostalgic word for antiquity.
昔むかしN4
昔 is the common everyday word for the distant past, whereas 古 carries a more elevated, literary tone.
太たい古こ
太古 refers to primeval or prehistoric times, an even more remote past than the nostalgic antiquity evoked by 古.

Opposites

現げん代だいN3
現代 means the present age, standing in contrast to 古, which evokes the distant, bygone past.

Don't confuse with

古ふるいN5
古い is the everyday adjective meaning 'old', while 古 (いにしえ) is a poetic noun meaning 'antiquity', despite sharing the same kanji.
故こN1
故 and 古 share the reading こ, but 故 marks that a named person has died (故〇〇氏) while 古 simply means 'old' and does not imply death.

Written forms

古いにしえUsage74%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and literary contexts.
いにしえUsage22%
Kana spelling is common in modern writing, especially when the kanji 古 might be misread as ふる or こ.
古いにしえUsage4%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form.
往古いにしえ
rarely-used kanji form

Etymology

From classical 往にし方, literally “the direction that has passed,” referring to past or bygone times. 古 is a meaning-based spelling.

Rarely used kanji form.