かつて かつて adverb formerly; once; at one time formaltime-general 1. formerly, once, at one time, in the past Refers to a time in the past, indicating something that was once the case but is no longer. かつてここに城(しろ)があった。🔊 There was once a castle here. かつての同僚(どうりょう)と再会(さいかい)した。🔊 I reunited with a former colleague. この町(まち)はかつて炭鉱(たんこう)で栄(さか)えていた。🔊 This town once thrived on coal mining. 2. never (with negative) When used with a negative predicate, emphasizes that something has never happened. かつてない規模(きぼ)の地震(じしん)だ。🔊 It's an earthquake of unprecedented scale. こんなに美(うつく)しい景色(けしき)はかつて見(み)たことがない。🔊 I've never seen such a beautiful view. かつて経験(けいけん)したことのない暑(あつ)さだった。🔊 It was heat like I'd never experienced before. Also written as 嘗(かつ)て, though hiragana is standard.Common patternsかつての〜: former ~, ex-~ (modifies nouns directly)かつて〜たことがない: have never ~edかつてない: unprecedentedNuance: かつて is more literary/formal than 昔(むかし) or 以前(いぜん). It emphasizes the contrast between a past state and the present, and is commonly used in writing, speeches, and narration. In sense 2, it adds strong emphasis to the negation. Related Words Compare: 昔(むかし) (long ago (everyday)) Compare: 以前(いぜん) (before, previously) general Added 2026.2.6 9:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01 10000/10303_katsute