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Yojijukugo

Japanese meaning of 冠婚葬祭

かんこんそうさい (kankon sousai)

English Translation:

Ceremonial occasions

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Literally “coming of age, wedding, funeral and ancestral rites”; the major ceremonies of life.
日本語で読む
元服（成人）、結婚、葬式、祖先のまつりの四つの儀式。広く、お祝いやお弔いの行事全般。

Cultural Context:

冠 stands for coming of age, 婚 for weddings, 葬 for funerals and 祭 for rites for ancestors. Today it refers broadly to weddings, funerals and similar events and their manners.
日本語で読む
冠は元服（成人）、婚は結婚、葬は葬式、祭は祖先のまつりを表す。今では、結婚式やお葬式などの行事やそのマナー全般を指す。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• Noun; often “冠婚葬祭のマナー” or “冠婚葬祭用の服.”
日本語で読む
•「冠婚葬祭のマナー」「冠婚葬祭用の服」のように使う。

Trap for English Speakers

祭 here means rites for ancestors, not festivals like 夏祭り. 葬 is read そう.
日本語で読む
「祭」は夏祭りのようなお祭りではなく、祖先のまつりのこと。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 冠婚葬祭に使える黒いスーツを一着買った。

    I bought a black suit I can wear to weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 忍びの里では、冠婚葬祭も目立たぬよう夜にひっそりと行われた。

    In the ninja village, even weddings and funerals were held quietly at night so as not to draw attention.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「冠婚葬祭」 mean?

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