Nostalgic in Japanese: natsukashii, explained with its major conjugations

How to say “nostalgic” in Japanese

Japanese people would say “natsukashii”. It is the Japanese word for ‘nostalgic’. In this blog post, I will explain this word and its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. Let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “natsukashii”
  • Example #1: how to say “nostalgic” in Japanese
• Nai form of “natsukashii”
  • Example #2: how to say “not nostalgic” in Japanese
• Ta form of “natsukashii”
  • Example #3: how to use the past tense form of “natsukashii”
• Te form of “natsukashii”
  • Example #4: how to use “natsukashii” before another adjective
• Ba form of “natsukashii”
  • Example #5: how to use “natsukashikereba”
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “natsukashii”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “natsukashii”.

• natsukashii – 懐かしい (なつかしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘nostalgic’ in Japanese. When this works as a modifier, this can also mean ‘missed’, ‘lost’, or such.

Japanese people often use this i-adjective to describe a feeling of being happy with old memories or things bringing them back to old days. Depending on the situation and context, therefore, this i-adjective can be translated just as ‘to miss’ or ‘to feel nostalgic’. This is the very basic concept of this word. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “nostalgic” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “basho” to say “this place” in Japanese.
• basho – 場所 (ばしょ) : a noun meaning ‘place’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this is used after the noun phrase, “kono basho”, to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “natsukashii”. When we want to say ‘nostalgic’ in Japanese, this word would be a very good choice. In this example, it works as a complement. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier. So, we can say “kono natsukashii basho” to mean ‘this nostalgic place’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “natsukashii”. The first one is “natsukashikunai”.

Nai form of “natsukashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “natsukashikunai”.

• natsukashikunai – 懐かしくない (なつかしくない) : the nai form of “natsukashii”, meaning ‘not nostalgic’, ‘not missed’, ‘not lost’, or such in Japanese.

This nai form consists of the following two parts:

• natsukashiku – 懐かしく (なつかしく) : one conjugation of “natsukashii”. This can have the better connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two components, we can understand that “natsukashikunai” is literally the nai form of “natsukashii” and means ‘not nostalgic’ or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not nostalgic” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• ongaku – 音楽 (おんがく) : a noun meaning ‘music’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “natsukashikunai”. When we want to say “not nostalgic” in Japanese, this nai form would be a very good choice.

The Japanese sentence has been translated as “this music is not nostalgic for me”, but can also be interpreted as ‘this music doesn’t make me feel nostalgic’ or ‘I don’t feel nostalgic about this music’.

Ta form of “natsukashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “natsukashikatta”.

• natsukashikatta – 懐かしかった (なつかしかった) : the ta form of “natsukashii”, working as its past tense form. So, this means ‘was nostalgic’, ‘were nostalgic’, or such in Japanese.

This ta form consists of the following two parts:

• natsukashikat – 懐かしかっ (なつかしかっ) : one conjugation of “natsukashii”. This can have the better connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ta form.

From these two components, we can understand that “natsukashikatta” is literally the ta form of “natsukashii”. In Japanese, ta forms of verbs and adjectives can work as their past tense forms. So, we can say “natsukashikatta” to mean ‘was nostalgic’, ‘were nostalgic’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this ta form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to use the past tense form of “natsukashii”

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “basho” to say “that place” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “natsukashikatta”. When we want to say “was nostalgic” in Japanese, this ta form would be a very good choice.

Te form of “natsukashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “natsukashikute”.

• natsukashikute – 懐かしくて (なつかしくて) : the te form of “natsukashii”, meaning ‘nostalgic’, ‘missed’, ‘lost’, or such in Japanese.

This te form consists of the following two parts:

• natsukashiku – 懐かしく (なつかしく) : one conjugation of “natsukashii”. This can have the better connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

A te form of an adjective can have a smooth connection with another adjective or a verb. So, “natsukashikute” is useful when we want to use adjectives in a row. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to use “natsukashii” before another adjective

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• atatakai – 温かい (あたたかい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘warm’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “natsukashikute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “atatakai”. When we want to use “natsukashii” before another adjective or a verb, its te form is useful.

Ba form of “natsukashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “natsukashikereba”.

• natsukashikereba – 懐かしければ (なつかしければ) : the ba form of “natsukashii”, used to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘nostalgic’ or such.

This ba form consists of the following two parts:

• natsukashikere – 懐かしけれ (なつかしけれ) : one conjugation of “natsukashii”. This can have the better connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

In Japanese, ba forms of verbs and adjectives can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “natsukashikereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘nostalgic’ or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to use “natsukashikereba”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• zehi – 是非 (ぜひ) : an adverb used to express a strong desire or wish. In the translation, this is reflected as “do”.
• oshie – 教え (おしえて) : one conjugation of the verb, “oshieru”, which means ‘to teach’, ‘to tell’, ‘to inform’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “natsukashikute”. In this example, this is used after “oshie” to make its te form, “oshie te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – ください : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its command form with adding the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this is used after the te-formed verb, “oshie te”.

This is a typical usage of “natsukashikereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause which means ‘if this music is nostalgic for you’. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘nostalgic’ or such in Japanese, this ba form is useful.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the i-adjective, “natsukashii”, and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• natsukashii – 懐かしい (なつかしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘nostalgic’ in Japanese. When this works as a modifier, this can also mean ‘missed’, ‘lost’, or such. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• natsukashikunai – 懐かしくない (なつかしくない) : the nai form of “natsukashii”, meaning ‘not nostalgic’, ‘not missed’, ‘not lost’, or such in Japanese.
• natsukashikatta – 懐かしかった (なつかしかった) : the ta form of “natsukashii”, working as its past tense form. So, this means ‘was nostalgic’, ‘were nostalgic’, or such in Japanese.
• natsukashikute – 懐かしくて (なつかしくて) : the te form of “natsukashii”, meaning ‘nostalgic’, ‘missed’, ‘lost’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “natsukashii” before another adjective, this form is useful.
• natsukashikereba – 懐かしければ (なつかしければ) : the ba form of “natsukashii”, used to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘nostalgic’ or such.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.