元日(がんじつ)

がんじつ
noun
New Year's Day
1. New Year's Day, January 1st
The first day of the year; a major holiday in Japan.
元日(がんじつ)に初詣(はつもうで)に行(い)った。
I went to the first shrine visit of the year on New Year's Day.
元日(がんじつ)は家族(かぞく)で過(す)ごすことが多(おお)い。
New Year's Day is often spent with family.
元日(がんじつ)の朝(あさ)、おせち料理(りょうり)を食(た)べた。
On New Year's Day morning, we ate osechi (traditional New Year food).
元日(がんじつ)は休日(きゅうじつ)です。
New Year's Day is a holiday.
元日(がんじつ)から仕事(しごと)が始(はじ)まる会社(かいしゃ)もある。
Some companies start work from New Year's Day.

元日(がんじつ) specifically refers to January 1st, the first day of the year.

Related terms:

  • 元旦(がんたん) (New Year's Day, particularly the morning)
  • 正月(しょうがつ) (New Year, the New Year period)
  • 大晦日(おおみそか) (New Year's Eve, December 31st)

Distinction:

  • 元日(がんじつ) = January 1st (the day)
  • 元旦(がんたん) = New Year's morning (strictly speaking)
  • 正月(しょうがつ) = The New Year period (first few days)

New Year's traditions:

  • 初詣(はつもうで) (first shrine visit)
  • 年賀状(ねんがじょう) (New Year's cards)
  • おせち料理(りょうり) (traditional New Year dishes)
  • お雑煮(ぞうに) (New Year soup with mochi)
core
Added 2026.1.13 21:17 · Revised 2026.2.3 12:05
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