当時
Meaning in Englishat that time, in those days (same as そのころ)
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
当時 means 'that time' or 'the time in question' and is used to anchor statements to a past moment in narrative, history, or reporting. It designates the temporal context relative to the speaker or events being described and often marks a contrast with later developments or the present.
Main meanings
- References a past time point relative to the speaker or context
- Indicates a historical period or era relevant to a narrative or description
- Often used to set the temporal frame in writing, reporting, and formal speech
How to use it
Used to anchor statements to a past moment; can begin a sentence or appear mid-sentence; formal and written contexts predominate, including literature, journalism, and academic writing. It often appears in patterns like 当時は... or 当時の..., describing conditions, attitudes, or facts at that time; in casual speech, its usage is less frequent.
Variants and close terms
- その頃 (sono koro) — that time
- かつて (katsute) — formerly
- 昔 (mukashi) — in the past, long ago
- 現在/今 (genzai/ima) — present time; antonym
Composition
- 当: here, this; to face; proximate to the topic; used to anchor reference to the current context
- 時: time, hour
- The combination conveys the idea of 'that time' as a specific past moment in discourse
Origin
Classical and early modern Japanese usage; it has long appeared in literary and documentary prose to designate the specific past moment around described events.
Word class
Noun, with adverbial use (副詞的用法)