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How to Say ‘I used to live in Osaka.’ in Japanese

前は大阪に住んでいました。

mae wa oosaka ni sun de i mashi ta

[mae wah oh-SAH-kah ni SOON deh ee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: 前 (mae) means "before" and at the start of a sentence gives the sense of "used to". The は after it is said (wa).

Phrase Breakdown

前は大阪に

mae wa oosaka ni

before, in Osaka

前は (mae wa) means 'before / previously', and 大阪に means 'in Osaka'. Say them together in one breath.

Example

前は大阪に友達がいました。

I used to have a friend in Osaka.

Words in this phrase

前

mae

[mae]

before

In advance of.

Example

食事の前に手を洗う。

Wash your hands before meals.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

大阪

oosaka

[oh-SAH-kah]

Osaka

Japan's third-largest city, famous for street food and a lively, friendly atmosphere.

Example

大阪でたこ焼きを食べました。

I ate takoyaki in Osaka.

に

[ni]

Indicates the target or location of an action.

Example

日本に行く。

Go to Japan.

住んでいました。

sun de i mashi ta

I lived

The past continuous form of 住む (to live). It describes where you lived for a period of time.

Example

子どもの時、ここに住んでいました。

I lived here as a child.

Words in this phrase

住ん

sun

[SOON]

live (te-form stem)

Form of 住む 'to live (somewhere)', used before で to make the te-form.

Example

大阪に住んでいます。

I live in Osaka.

で

[deh]

(te-form connector)

Part of the te-form 混んで, linking the verb to いる to show an ongoing state.

Example

道が混んでいます。

The road is congested.

い

[ee]

be; ongoing state part

Part of the continuous form that shows an action is currently happening.

Example

今も条件を比べている最中です。

I am still in the middle of comparing conditions.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

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