お正月(しょうがつ)

おしょうがつ
noun
New Year
honorificleisuretime-generalculture
1. New Year; New Year's holiday
The New Year celebration period in Japan, typically the first few days of January.
お正月(しょうがつ)は家族(かぞく)で過(す)ごす。
I spend New Year's with my family.
お正月(しょうがつ)に実家(じっか)に帰(かえ)る。
I go back to my parents' home for New Year's.
お正月(しょうがつ)におせち料理(りょうり)を食(た)べる。
We eat osechi ryori during New Year's.
お正月(しょうがつ)には初詣(はつもうで)に行(い)く人(ひと)が多(おお)い。
Many people go for their first shrine visit during New Year's.
子供(こども)のころ、お正月(しょうがつ)にお年玉(としだま)をもらうのが楽(たの)しみだった。
When I was a child, I looked forward to receiving New Year's money.

お正月(しょうがつ) is the most important holiday period in Japan, traditionally celebrated for the first three days of January (三(さん)が日(にち)). The お- prefix is honorific; 正月(しょうがつ) is the plain form.

Related words

Common expressions

Usage

Many businesses close from December 29 to January 3. Families typically gather at the 実家(じっか) (parents' home) during this period.

Related Words

Synonym: 正月(しょうがつ) (New Year (plain))
Related: 初詣(はつもうで) (first shrine visit of the year)
Related: おせち料理(りょうり) (traditional New Year foods)
Related: お年玉(としだま) (money given to children)
Related: 年賀状(ねんがじょう) (New Year greeting cards)
Related: 門松(かどまつ) (pine decorations placed at entrances)
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Added 2026.1.16 17:15 · Revised 2026.10.6 22:27
05500/05586_oshougatsu