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曽
曽
11 strokes
Frequency: 1320
Grade 8

Meanings

formerly
once
before
ever
never
ex-

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
ソウ
ソ
ゾウ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
かつ
かつて
すなわち

Common Words

かつて
かって
嘗て
曽て
都て
Adverb
～の Adj.
Usually kana
Freq #1080
1

once; before; formerly; ever; former; ex-

Examples
一般に日本人は、自分たちがかつてより暮らし向きがよくなったと考えている。
The Japanese at large consider themselves better off than they used to be.
2

Used with neg. verb

never yet; never before; first time; still not happened

曾
曽
ひい
ひ
そう
Freq #26017
1

Prefix

great (i.e. great-grandson, great-grandmother)

未曾有
未曽有
みぞう
Noun
～の Adj.
Freq #28643
1

unprecedented; unheard-of; record-breaking

曾祖父
曽祖父
そうそふ
ひいじじ
ひじじ
ひおおじ
Noun
Freq #39016
1

great-grandfather; great-granddad; great-grandad

Examples
曾祖父の代から東京に住んでいます。
My family came to live in Tokyo in my great-grandfather's time.
ひ孫
曾孫
ひこ孫
曽孫
ひまご (ひ孫／曾孫／曽孫)
そうそん (曾孫／曽孫)
ひいまご (曾孫／曽孫)
ひこ (ひ孫／曾孫／曽孫)
ひひこ (曾孫／曽孫)
ひこまご (曾孫／ひこ孫／曽孫)
Noun
Freq #45498
1

great-grandchild

Examples
彼はひ孫を見るまで生きた。
He lived to see great-grandchildren.
曾祖母
曽祖母
そうそぼ
ひいばば
ひばば
ひおおば
Noun
Freq #55224
1

great-grandmother; great-grandma

木曽路
木曾路
きそじ
Noun
Freq #89294
1

Kiso valley section of the Nakasendo

ひいおじいさん
曾おじいさん
曾お祖父さん
曽お祖父さん
Noun
Usually kana
Freq #104851
1

great-grandfather

熊襲
熊曽
熊曾
くまそ
Noun
Freq #116827
1

Historical term

Kumaso (ancient Japanese people who lived in southern Kyushu)

2

Historical term

Kumaso (former province located in present-day Miyazaki Prefecture)

ひいおばあさん
曾おばあさん
曾お祖母さん
曽お祖母さん
Noun
Usually kana
Freq #139675
1

great-grandmother

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