昔むかし々むかし

noun, adverb

long ago; once upon a time

Set phrase used at the beginning of folk tales and stories, equivalent to 'once upon a time'. Often used adverbially.

• 昔むかし々むかし、あるところにおじいさんとおばあさんが住すんでいました。

  Once upon a time, there lived an old man and an old woman.

• 昔むかし々むかしの話はなしだけど、この村むらには大おおきな竜りゅうがいたんだって。

  It's a story from long ago, but they say there was a big dragon in this village.