思い出

• Reading: おもいで
• Romaji: omoide
• Kanji breakdown: 思 (shi/omo) — thought, feeling; 出 (shutsu/de) — come out, exit
• Pronunciation: /o.mo.i.de/

Meaning

Memories; recollections; reminiscences. Cherished experiences from the past.

A noun combining 思い (thought, feeling) and 出 (come out), literally 'thoughts that come out.' Carries a warm, nostalgic nuance — typically refers to positive or meaningful memories rather than neutral recollections. Related verb: 思い出す (omoidasu, to remember/recall). Common in phrases like いい思い出 (good memories) and 思い出に残る (to remain as a memory).

Examples

1. 学生時代の思い出を語り合った。 We shared memories from our school days.
2. この写真を見ると楽しい思い出がよみがえる。 Looking at this photo brings back happy memories.
3. 旅行の思い出にお土産を買った。 I bought a souvenir as a memento of the trip.

Usage Guide

Context: nostalgia, storytelling, travel

Tone: warm

Origin & History

A native Japanese compound from 思い (omoi, thought/feeling, from 思う) and 出 (de, coming out). The image is of feelings or experiences emerging from within — memories surfacing from the past.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal