来歴

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 来歴, read らいれき, and it combines 来, meaning come or reach the present, with 歴, meaning the course something has passed through.
• Basic usage: The basic sense of 来歴 is the origin and history of an object or the career and background of a person.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An object's history and a person's background
  • Both examples use the form 来歴. For an object it concerns its origin and history; for a person it concerns life and professional background.
• Museum research and interpreting a work
  • 博物館でこの古い時計の来歴を調べた。 — At the museum, I investigated the history of this old clock.
  • 作者の来歴を知ると作品の背景が見えてくる。 — Knowing the creator's background helps reveal the context of the work.