Japanese

むかしばなし
Meaning: old tale; folklore; legend
Part of Speech: Noun

Listen to pronunciation

Handwriting

昔
話

Example sentences

The grandfather read old tales to the children.
昔話では、欲に目がくらんだ者が人を殺めることがある
In old tales, there are stories of people who, blinded by greed, end up killing others.
昔話の中には、恐ろしい山姥が登場することが多い。
In many folk tales, a terrifying mountain hag often appears.
家族は炉端を囲んで昔話に花を咲かせた。
The family gathered around the hearth and had a lively conversation about old times.
父は寝る前に子どもに昔話を聞かせた。
Before bed, the father told the child an old tale.

Usage Notes

Specifically refers to traditional stories often passed down through generations, like Momotaro or Kaguya-hime.

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