弔辞

• Reading: ちょうじ
• Romaji: chōji
• Kanji breakdown: 弔 (chō/tomurai) — to mourn, condolences; 辞 (ji/kotoba) — words, formal address
• Pronunciation: /tɕoː.dʑi/

Meaning

Funeral address; eulogy; condolence speech delivered at a funeral or memorial service to honour the deceased.

A formal, written speech read aloud at a funeral. In Japan, delivering a 弔辞 is a solemn honour bestowed upon someone close to the deceased, often a colleague, friend, or student. The address typically reflects on the person's life, virtues, and the speaker's personal connection with them. Distinct from 追悼文 (tsuitorubun — written tribute) in that it is specifically delivered orally at the ceremony.

Examples

1. 恩師の葬儀で弔辞を読むよう頼まれ、一週間かけて言葉を選んだ。 I was asked to deliver the eulogy at my mentor's funeral and spent a week choosing the right words.
2. 作家の弔辞は文学的で美しく、参列者の涙を誘った。 The writer's eulogy was literary and beautiful, moving the attendees to tears.
3. 弔辞を読み上げる声が途中で震え、言葉を詰まらせた。 The voice reading the eulogy trembled midway through, and the speaker choked on their words.

Usage Guide

Context: funerals, memorial services, ceremonies, rhetoric

Tone: solemn

Origin & History

Compound of 弔 (to mourn, condolences) and 辞 (words, address). 弔 originally depicted a person bringing offerings to comfort the grieving; 辞 denotes formal speech. Together they form a term for solemn farewell words.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal