来歴

• Reading: らいれき
• Romaji: raireki
• Kanji breakdown: 来 (rai/ku) — come, arrive, future; 歴 (reki) — pass through, history, chronicle
• Pronunciation: /ɾai.ɾe.ki/

Meaning

History; background; origin; pedigree. The record of how something or someone came to be what they are today.

来歴 refers to the documented or traceable history of a person, object, institution, or concept — how it came to exist and how it arrived at its current state. Commonly used when discussing the provenance of an artwork (作品の来歴), the background of a person (人物の来歴), or the origin of a custom (風習の来歴). Slightly more formal than 経歴 (personal career history) and broader in scope — 来歴 encompasses origin stories as well as subsequent development.

Examples

1. この刀の来歴は江戸時代に遡り、数人の武士の手を経て現在に至る。 The provenance of this sword dates back to the Edo period, having passed through the hands of several samurai to reach the present day.
2. 博物館の展示では、各作品の来歴が詳しく説明されていた。 At the museum exhibition, the history of each work was explained in detail.
3. 彼の来歴を知れば、なぜその仕事にそこまで情熱を持つのかが理解できる。 If you know his background, you can understand why he is so passionate about that work.

Usage Guide

Context: history, art, biography, provenance

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

Compound of 来 (coming, arriving) + 歴 (passing through, history, record). Together they describe the record of how something travelled through time to arrive at the present.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults (academic)

Social background: Academic/Professional