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故事 (こじ, koji) Japanese meaning: historical event | Kotomora

故こ事じ

こ

じ

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

historical event; ancient event

Refers to a specific event or incident from the distant past, often used in historical or literary contexts.

この故こ事じは中ちゅう国ごくの歴れき史し書しょに記しるされている。

This historical event is recorded in a Chinese history book.

2

tradition; folklore; legend; origin

Refers to a traditional story, legend, or the origin of a custom or saying, often with a moral or cultural lesson.

このことわざには古ふるい故こ事じがある。
This proverb has an old legend behind it.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は〈故こ事じ〉に基もとづくan event/saying is based on a historical legend
この言こと葉ばは中ちゅう国ごくの故こ事じに基もとづいている。
This phrase is based on an ancient Chinese legend.
故こ事じを引いん用ようするto quote a historical anecdote
彼かれはスピーチの中なかで有ゆう名めいな故こ事じを引いん用ようした。
He quoted a famous historical anecdote in his speech.
〈事こと〉は故こ事じにちなむsomething is named after a legend or historical event
この地ち名めいは古ふるい故こ事じにちなんで名な付づけられた。
This place name was given after an old legend.

Kanji

故happenstance, especially, intentionally
事matter, thing, fact
古old

Related words

伝でん説せつN1sense 2
伝説 is a broader term for a legend or tradition, often mythical, while 故事 emphasizes a specific historical or literary origin.
昔むかし話ばなしN1sense 2
昔話 is a casual folktale told for entertainment, whereas 故事 is a more formal reference tied to a historical or cultural origin.
由ゆ来らいN2sense 2
由来 focuses on the origin or reason behind something, while 故事 refers to the actual historical event or traditional story itself.
逸いつ話わ sense 1
逸話 is a lesser-known anecdote about a person, while 故事 is a well-known historical event or legend often carrying a moral lesson.

Don't confuse with

事じ故こN4
故事 (a historical event or legend) and 事故 (an accident) share the same two kanji reversed, so learners must be careful not to mix them up.

Word family

故こ事じ成せい語ご
idiom from Chinese history or classics
故こ事じ来らい歴れき
origin and history; particulars

Written forms

故こ事じUsage35%
Standard kanji spelling for both senses; high priority.
古こ事じUsage65%
Rare variant; 故事 is overwhelmingly preferred in modern usage.

Etymology

From Middle Chinese-derived elements 故 (old, past) and 事 (matter, event). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used in Japanese to refer to ancient events and traditional stories.