過去|かこkako[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverb, no-adjectivethe past; bygone days
   私はいつまでも過去かこにこだわらないようにと心こころがけている。↗

   I try not to dwell on the past.
2. nounone's past (that one would prefer remained secret)
3. noun, grammarpast (tense); preterit; preterite
4. noun, Buddhismprevious life

• Synonym昔むかしNeutralThe old days, long ago; common in speech and writing, mostly for the more distant past. 「過去」 can cover just-recent time and is the grammar term in 「過去形」.
• Synonym往時おうじWrittenWritten style for bygone days, times past, as in 「往時を偲ぶ」「往時の面影」; more literary than 「過去」, with no sense of a secret past and no grammatical use.
• Synonym既往きおうWrittenWritten style; besides the past, refers to illnesses one has had, mostly in 「既往症」「既往歴」. For past time in general, 「過去」 is the usual word.
• Synonym往年おうねんWrittenWritten style for years gone by, often as a modifier, as in 「往年の名選手」「往年の勢い」; points to years earlier than 「過去」 typically does.
• Synonym旧時きゅうじWrittenWritten style for the old era, times gone by; rare in daily use and stresses the past as opposed to the present. Say 「昔」 or 「過去」 instead.
• Synonym過ぎ来し方すぎこしかたWrittenA literary, poetic word for the years one has lived through, also the road one has come by. For everyday talk about one's past, 「過去」 is enough.
• Related従来じゅうらいNeutralFor what has carried on from before up to now, as in 「従来の方法」; the focus is on continuing into the present. 「過去」 usually points to time already gone, set apart from now.
• Related歴史れきしNeutralThe course of change in a society or thing and the events in it, as in 「日本の歴史」. 「過去」 is simply the time that has passed, and can also mean one's personal past.
• Related古いにしえWrittenAn elegant written word for the remote past, antiquity, as in 「いにしえの都」; archaic in flavor. 「過去」 covers any distance of time and is the everyday choice.
• Related往昔おうせきWrittenWritten style for ancient times, close to 「往時」 but even more refined; not used in daily life — say 「昔」.
• Related往日おうじつWrittenWritten, literary word for days gone by; very rare in daily use. Say 「昔」 or 「過去」.
• Related来し方きしかたWrittenWritten style for one's life course up to now, as in 「来し方を振り返る」; centers on personal experience and is more literary than 「過去」.
• Related昔年せきねんWrittenWritten style for former years; very rare and more archaic than 「過去」. Say 「昔」 in daily life.
• Related昔時せきじWrittenWritten style for a past period; very rare. Say 「昔」 in daily life, or 「過去」 when stressing time cut off from the present.
• Related往代おうだいWrittenWritten style for the remote past, long-gone ages; very rare and reaches further back than 「過去」. Say 「昔」 or 「古代」 in daily life.
• Antonym未来みらいNeutralAntonym: the time ahead, as in 「未来を描く」; leans toward the distant, abstract future. Opposite of 「過去」 in time order, and both are tense terms.
• Antonym将来しょうらいNeutralAntonym: the time ahead, especially one's own prospects, as in 「将来の夢」; also works as an adverb. Opposite of 「過去」 in time order, more concrete and personal than 「未来」.

For time that has passed in general, 「過去」 is the default — from just-recent stretches to one's secret past, and as the tense term in 「過去形」. Use 「昔」 for things from long ago, 「従来」 for what has continued up to now, 「既往」 for medical history, and 「歴史」 for the course of change. The many literary words (往時, いにしえ, 往年, etc.) are written style only. The opposites are 「未来」 and 「将来」.

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

1. 過ぎ去すぎさった時とき。現在げんざいより以前いぜんのこと。
2. 現在げんざいを含ふくむ以前いぜんのこと。歴代れきだい。
3. これまでにしてきた行為こうい。経歴けいれき。文脈ぶんみゃくにより、このましくない行跡ぎょうせき。昔むかしの悪事あくじ。
4. 現在げんざいの状況じょうきょうとは無関係むかんけいなこと。また全盛期ぜんせいきを過すぎていること。
5. 三さん世せいの一ひとつ。過去かこ世せい。前世ぜんせい。
6. 現在げんざいより以前いぜんに。これまで。