Express “For the First Time in a While” Naturally

Have you ever wanted to say:

• “I went to Japan for the first time in five years.”
• “I ate sushi for the first time in months.”
• “I exercised for the first time in a week.”

Japanese has a simple pattern for expressing this idea.

Once you learn it, you’ll be able to talk naturally about things you haven’t done for a long time.

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For the First Time in a While

When you don’t want to say exactly how long it’s been, use:

久ひさしぶりに + Verb

This means:

• for the first time in a while
• after a long time

Examples

• 久ひさしぶりに寿司すしを食たべました。
  I ate sushi for the first time in a while.

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• 久ひさしぶりに運動うんどうしました。
  I exercised for the first time in a while.

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• 久ひさしぶりに友達ともだちに会あいました。
  I met my friend for the first time in a while.

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Want to Say Exactly How Long?

Simply replace 久ひさしぶり with a period of time.

Time Period + ぶりに + Verb

This means:

“for the first time in…”

Examples

• 1週間しゅうかんぶりにジムへ行いきました。
  I went to the gym for the first time in a week.

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• 3か月げつぶりに映画えいがを見みました。
  I watched a movie for the first time in three months.

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• 半年はんとしぶりに運転うんてんしました。
  I drove for the first time in six months.

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• 1年ねんぶりに実家じっかへ帰かえりました。
  I went back to my parents’ home for the first time in a year.

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• 5年ねんぶりに日本にほんへ行いきました。
  I went to Japan for the first time in five years.

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• 10年ねんぶりに高校こうこうの友達ともだちに会あいました。
  I met my high school friend for the first time in ten years.

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The Pattern

Whether you say 久ひさしぶりに or 〇〇ぶりに, the sentence structure stays the same.

〇〇ぶりに + Verb

Examples:

• 久ひさしぶりに旅行りょこうしました。I traveled for the first time in a while.
• 2か月げつぶりに旅行りょこうしました。I traveled for the first time in two months.
• 5年ねんぶりに旅行りょこうしました。I traveled for the first time in five years.

Just change the time expression depending on how long it’s been!

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Try It Yourself!

Can you make a sentence using one of these?

• 1週間しゅうかんぶりに…
• 半年はんとしぶりに…
• 3年ねんぶりに…
• 久ひさしぶりに…

It’s an easy pattern that you’ll hear often in everyday conversations, interviews, and even on the news, so it’s definitely worth learning!