How to say "past" in Japanese

• すぎJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The temporal sense: time that has gone by, or the period just after a stated hour or date. Use it for 'past' and 'after' in expressions of time.
  １０時じ過すぎには電話でんわをしないで下ください。↗

  Don't call me up after ten o'clock.
• 曰くいわくCommon
  nounA person's or thing's past as a history with a story behind it, often with a suggestion of something unsavory; it also means 'pretext' and is not the neutral word for bygone time.
  ふふ・・・いわくがあるのさ、あそこには。↗

  He-heh... there's a tale behind that, for that place.
• このJLPT N5approx.Common
  pre-noun adjectivalThe demonstrative 'this'; its 'past' sense is the 'last (couple of years, etc.)' use, pointing to a period leading up to now. Usually written in kana, it does not stand alone as a noun.
  この数年間すうねんかんに彼かれは不朽ふきゅうの名詩めいしを書かいた。↗

  During these years he wrote immortal poems.
• 素性すじょうCommon
  nounA person's past in the sense of background and origins — who they are and where they come from. Use it for someone's history or identity, not for past time in general.
  ぜんぜん素性そせいの分わからない人間にんげんを軽々かるがるしく信用しんようしてはならぬ。↗

  Don't trust a man whose past you know nothing about.

Choose 「すぎ」 for time that has gone by or the period after a stated hour, 「曰く」 for a past with a story behind it, 「この」 for 'last/this' stretches of time up to now, and 素性 for a person's background.

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

• すぎpast
• 曰くいわくpretext
• 元もとformer
• 在りしありしprior
• 過去かこpast (tense)
• このlast (couple of years, etc.)
• 素性すじょうidentity
• 往者おうしゃpast