How to say "historic" in Japanese

• 史的してき
  na-adjectiveIt covers both 'historic' and 'historical.' It is, however, less common than 歴史的, which is the safer choice in most cases.
• 歴史上れきしじょう
  no-adjective, adverbLiterally 'in history,' it situates an event or person within history itself, and it suits phrases like 'the greatest event in history.' It is less common than 歴史的.
  日本にっぽんの歴史れきし上じょうの人物じんぶつであなたは誰だれが好すきですか。↗

  Which one of Japan's historical characters do you identify yourself with?
• 曠古こうこ
  no-adjectiveA rare word meaning 'unprecedented' — without parallel in all history. It covers 'historic' only in that momentous sense, so it is seldom the word you want for ordinary uses.
• ヒストリック
  na-adjectiveThe loanword from English. It is a less common way to say 'historic'; for the ordinary sense, 歴史的 is the common choice.
• 歴史的れきしてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe common, all-purpose word for 'historic.' Use it for a historic event, decision, or moment — anything momentous enough to go down in history.
  彼かれは歴史的れきしてきな航海こうかいに出でかけた。↗

  He set out on his historic voyage.

For the ordinary sense of 'historic,' 歴史的 is the common choice; 歴史上 places things within history, 曠古 stresses the unprecedented, 史的 is a less common synonym, and 「ヒストリック」 is the loanword.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 史的してきhistoric
• 歴史上れきしじょうhistoric
• 曠古こうこhistoric
• ヒストリックhistoric
• 歴史的れきしてきhistoric