お正月

• Reading: おしょうがつ
• Romaji: oshougatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 正 (sei/shou) — correct, proper. 月 (getsu/gatsu) — month, moon
• Pronunciation: /o.ɕoː.ɡa.tsɯ/

Meaning

New Year; New Year's holiday. Especially refers to the first three days of January.

The お prefix makes this the polite/standard form (正月 alone sounds slightly blunt). Japan's most important holiday period, traditionally spent visiting shrines (初詣), eating special cuisine (おせち料理), and spending time with family. Schools and businesses close for about a week.

Examples

1. お正月に家族で集まります。 My family gets together for New Year's.
2. お正月はおせち料理を食べます。 We eat osechi cuisine for New Year's.
3. 今年のお正月は雪が降りました。 It snowed this New Year's.

Usage Guide

Context: holidays, seasons, family

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Compound of 正 (shou, correct/proper) and 月 (gatsu, month). The 'correct month' refers to the first month of the year — the proper beginning. The お prefix is honorific.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal