Translation and Meaning of: 歴史 - rekishi

The word 「歴史」 (rekishi) refers to the term "history". It is composed of two kanji: 「歴」 (reki) and 「史」 (shi). The first kanji, 「歴」, carries the meaning of "succession" or "past", forming the basis of the notion of a chronology of events. On the other hand, the kanji 「史」 is related to "script", "chronicle" or "record", and originally denoted a historian or someone in charge of recording events. The fusion of these two characters results in the idea of a narrative or record of past occurrences.

Etymologically, 「歴史」 dates back to ancient times in Japan, with significant influences from classical Chinese, where records and chronicles were fundamental for governance and culture. In the historical context, Japan greatly valued documentation and the transmission of cultural and political traditions, which contributed to the evolution of the study of history as a respectable and necessary discipline. This tradition can be seen in the continuity of historical texts and chronicles that have been preserved over the centuries.

In a more cultural context, the word 「歴史」 does not refer only to documented history; it captures the essence of time and its passage, something deeply rooted in the Japanese way of perceiving the world. Variations in its meaning can include personal history, which is referred to as 「個人の歴史」 (kojin no rekishi), while world history is expressed as 「世界史」 (sekaishi). These variations show the flexibility and breadth of the word 「歴史」 in the Japanese language, providing a multifaceted view of the concept of history.

Today, 「歴史」 is a field of study that encompasses not only past events but also the theories, methods, and interpretations that help to better understand our world and how it has been shaped. In the educational curriculum, it is an essential component that not only illuminates the past but also guides perceptions of the present and the future. The importance of 「歴史」 is evident in museums, archives, and the ongoing pursuit of knowledge and understanding, highlighting its continued relevance in contemporary society.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 過去 (Kako) - Past; refers to the time that has already happened.
• 歴程 (Rekitō) - Historical trajectory; paths taken throughout history.
• 史跡 (Shiseki) - Historical site; places that have historical significance.
• 歴史的 (Rekishiteki) - Historical; related to significant events in history.
• 歴史学 (Rekishigaku) - Study of history; an academic discipline that analyzes past events.
• 歴史的事実 (Rekishiteki jijitsu) - Historical facts; events that really took place in history.

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歴史

Romaji: rekishi
Kana: れきし
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: history

Meaning in English: history

Definition: Recording and researching events and actions that have occurred over time, from the past to the present.

Example Sentences - (歴史) rekishi

See below some example sentences:

考古学は歴史を知るために重要な学問です。

Kōkogaku wa rekishi o shiru tame ni jūyōna gakumon desu

Archaeology is an important discipline for understanding history.

Archaeology is an important learning tool to understand history.

• 考古学 - archaeology
• は - Topic particle
• 歴史 - history
• を - direct object particle
• 知る - to know, to be familiar with
• ために - in order to
• 重要な - important
• 学問 - academic discipline
• です - verb "to be" (in the present)

歴史は繰り返す。

Rekishi wa kurikaesu

History repeats itself.

History repeats itself.

• 歴史 - word in Japanese that means "history"
• は - particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 繰り返す - word in Japanese that means "repeat"

地質学は地球の歴史を解明するために重要な役割を果たしています。

Chishitsugaku wa chikyū no rekishi o kaimei suru tame ni jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Geology plays an important role in understanding earth history.

Geology plays an important role in the elucidation of earth history.

• 地質学 - geological science
• 地球 - Planet Earth
• 歴史 - history
• 解明する - clarify
• ために - for
• 重要な - important
• 役割 - paper
• 果たしています - performs

日本とブラジルの国交は長い歴史があります。

Nihon to Burajiru no kokkou wa nagai rekishi ga arimasu

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil have a long history.

• 日本 - Japan
• と - I'm sorry, but I need a text or string to translate from Portuguese to English. Please provide the content you'd like me to work on.
• ブラジル - Brazil
• の - of
• 国交 - diplomatic relations
• は - are
• 長い - longas
• 歴史 - history
• が - have
• あります - existed