1.
to reach the age of awareness; to become old enough to understand the world around one
Describes the developmental stage when a young child becomes capable of understanding and remembering their surroundings, typically around ages 3-5. Almost always used with reference to one's earliest memories.
物心ついたときには父はいなかった。
By the time I was old enough to be aware, my father was already gone.
物心つく前に引っ越したので、生まれた町の記憶がない。
We moved before I was old enough to remember, so I have no memories of the town where I was born.
物心ついたころから音楽が好きだった。
I've loved music for as long as I can remember.
Composed of 物心 (awareness of the world, understanding of things) + つく (to become attached, to develop). A common expression in autobiographical narratives and family stories. 物心 itself is a compound of 物 (things) + 心 (heart/mind).
Almost always appears in fixed temporal patterns like 物心ついたとき (when I became aware), 物心つく前 (before I was aware), or 物心ついたころ (around the time I became aware).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 物心ついたときには: by the time one was old enough to understand
- 物心つく前に: before one was old enough to remember
- 物心ついたころから: from as far back as one can remember
- 物心がつく: to develop awareness (with が particle)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 記憶がある限り: as far as one can remember — focuses on memory rather than developmental stage
- 幼い頃: when one was young — a general time reference without the developmental milestone nuance