yesteryear
意味一覧 (2件)
往年
解説 Definition
過去の時代、特に人や物がよく知られ、活躍していたころを懐かしく指す語です。映画、音楽、スポーツ、街並みなど、以前の魅力や全盛期を少し文語的に語る場面で使われます。
Yesteryear means a past time, especially a period that people remember with nostalgia. It is often used when talking about famous people, popular things, or places that were well known or successful in earlier days. The word has a slightly literary tone, so it sounds more formal than simple expressions like old times. It also often appears in the phrase "of yesteryear" to mean "from former times."
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
yesterday の yester- は「過ぎ去った」を連想させる部分で、そこに year が合わさると「過ぎ去った年月」という広がりになります。yesteryear は単なる old times より文語的で、スター、名選手、映画、建物などのかつての輝きを懐かしく語る時に合います。「昔」一般ではなく、of yesteryear の形で「往年の」と名詞を飾る使い方もよく意識しましょう。
Notice the first part, yester-, which may remind you of yesterday and the idea of something already gone. Add year, and you get the image of "years that have passed." That makes yesteryear a good word for talking about the admired people, places, or things of earlier times. Also remember the common phrase "of yesteryear," which means "from the old days."
例文
Fans still talk about the great players of yesteryear.
ファンはいまでも往年の名選手たちを語る。
The old theater keeps the charm of yesteryear, even after the city changed around it.
その古い劇場は、街が周囲で変わったあとも往年の趣を残している。
The documentary looks back on the pop stars of yesteryear with warmth and respect.
そのドキュメンタリーは往年のポップスターたちを温かく敬意をこめて振り返る。
昔
(意味 2)解説 Definition
過去のある時期、特に懐かしい昔の時代。往年。
Yesteryear means the past, especially a time long ago that people remember with feeling or nostalgia. It is often used when talking about earlier days, old traditions, or past success. The word sounds literary or old-fashioned.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリの「昔」は、yesteryear の基本義「往年」とは別に、古風で文学的な響きで過去の時代をまとめて指す用法として覚えます。yesterday の yester- から「過ぎ去った」感覚を取り、year が加わって遠い年月へ広がるイメージです。会話で頻繁に使う past ではなく、写真、記憶、古い映画などに添えて、懐かしい昔をやや詩的に述べる語です。
If you know yesterday, the part yester- already gives an old-time feeling. Add year, and you get the years of the past, not just one day ago. The word often sounds warm or nostalgic, like the good old days. That old-fashioned tone helps fix it in memory.
例文
She reminisced about the golden days of yesteryear.
彼女は往年の輝かしい日々を回想した。
The vintage photograph captured the charm of yesteryear.
その古い写真は昔の魅力を捉えていた。
Movies of yesteryear often had a different style from today's films.
昔の映画は現在の映画とは異なるスタイルを持っていることが多い。
yesteryear の語源・成り立ち Etymology
yesteryear は yester-「昨日の、過ぎ去った」と year「年」から成る語です。yesterday と同系で、過去の年月を昨日のことのように懐かしく見る感覚から「往年」を表します。
Yesteryear is made from yester-, meaning "of yesterday" or "past," and year. It is related to yesterday. The word developed the sense of "past years" viewed with a feeling of nostalgia, which is why it now means "times of the past" or "days gone by."
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