adverbial N1 common writtenliterary
かつて — once / formerly
かつて
Meaning
- once / formerly / at one time — at some point in the past
- (with a negative) never (before) — emphasizing that something is unprecedented
Key sentence
ここはかつて城があった場所だ。
This is the place where a castle once stood.
Usage
An adverb, placed before the verb or at the head of the clause. Written/formal in flavor; with a negative predicate it means 'never before'.
Examples
彼はかつて有名な俳優だった。
He was once a famous actor.
この町はかつての賑わいを失った。
This town has lost its former liveliness.
かつてないほどの大雪に見舞われた。
We were hit by snowfall heavier than ever before.
そんな話はかつて聞いたことがない。
I have never heard such a thing before.
When you can't use it
- Refers to a real, more or less distant past, so it doesn't combine with a present or future event. With ない it becomes the set 'never before' (かつてない 'unprecedented').
Notes
- かつての + noun is a common adnominal use meaning 'former / one-time ~': かつての名選手 'a former star player', かつての恋人 'an old flame'.
See かつて in real sentences
Jengo shows かつて the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.