厄年

• Reading: やくどし
• Romaji: yakudoshi
• Kanji breakdown: 厄 (yaku) — calamity, misfortune | 年 (toshi) — year, age
• Pronunciation: /ja.kɯ.do.ɕi/

Meaning

Unlucky year; a critical year in a person's life traditionally believed to bring misfortune and requiring special religious caution.

Based on folk tradition rooted in Chinese numerology and Shinto belief, 厄年 designates ages considered particularly inauspicious. The main 厄年 for men are 25, 42, and 61; for women 19, 33, and 37 — with the 大厄 (great unlucky year) being 42 for men and 33 for women. During 厄年 people visit shrines to perform 厄払い (ritual purification to ward off misfortune). The year before is 前厄, the year after 後厄. Though rooted in superstition, many Japanese people take these observances seriously.

Examples

1. 今年は男の大厄にあたるため、近所の神社で厄払いをしてもらった。 As this year is the great unlucky year for men, I had a purification ritual performed at a nearby shrine.
2. 厄年だからといって何もしなければ不安なので、祈祷を受けることにした。 Since it felt unsettling to do nothing just because it was an unlucky year, I decided to receive a prayer.
3. 厄年の概念は現代でも根強く残っており、多くの人が前厄から対策を始める。 The concept of unlucky years remains deeply rooted in modern times, and many people begin taking precautions from the year before.

Usage Guide

Context: folk belief, Shinto customs, life events

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 厄 (yaku) meaning 'calamity, misfortune, plague' and 年 (toshi) meaning 'year, age'. The tradition blends Chinese numerological beliefs (certain numbers considered inauspicious) with Shinto ritual practice, established by at least the Heian period.

Cultural Context

Era: Heian–Present

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal