昔むかし

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb

old days; the past; a long time ago

Refers to a time long before now, often nostalgically or in contrast with the present. Can be used as a noun, adverb, or with の to modify nouns.

• 昔むかし、ここには大おおきな森もりがあった。

  Long ago, there was a big forest here.

• 昔むかしの写しゃ真しんを見みると、なつかしい気き持もちになる。

  Looking at old photos makes me feel nostalgic.

• 彼かれは昔むかしと変かわらず元げん気きだ。

  He is as energetic as ever, just like in the old days.

noun

the past ten years; the past decade

Used as a unit of time, often in expressions like ひと昔 (about ten years) or ふた昔 (about twenty years). Not used alone in this sense.

See also: 二昔

• ひと昔むかし前まえは、スマートフォンはまだ珍めずらしかった。

  A decade ago, smartphones were still rare.

• ふた昔むかしも前まえの話はなしだ。

  That's a story from twenty years ago.