ひところ

• Reading: ひところ
• Romaji: hitokoro
• Kanji breakdown: 一 (ichi/hito) — one; 頃 (koro/goro) — time, period
• Pronunciation: /hi.to.ko.ɾo/

Meaning

Once; at one time; some time ago. Refers to a period in the past that has since changed.

An adverb and noun indicating a past period that contrasts with the present: ひところ流行した (was popular at one time), ひところに比べて (compared to how things were before). Implies that the situation described no longer holds — there is always an implicit 'but now it is different.' More literary and specific than かつて (katsute, once/formerly), which simply marks the past without necessarily implying contrast. The kanji form 一頃 is rarely used.

Examples

1. ひところ話題になった店も今は静かだ。 The restaurant that was once all the buzz is quiet now.
2. ひところに比べて気温が下がってきた。 The temperature has dropped compared to what it was a while ago.
3. ひところは毎日のように通っていた。 There was a time when I used to go there almost every day.

Usage Guide

Context: reminiscence, comparison, news

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

From 一 (hito, one) + 頃 (koro, time/period). Literally 'one time' or 'a certain period,' referring to a specific past era. The hiragana form ひところ is standard in modern writing; the kanji 一頃 is uncommon.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal