お葬式(そうしき)

おそうしき
noun
funeral
politeculture
1. funeral
A ceremony conducted to honor and bid farewell to a deceased person, typically involving Buddhist or Shinto rituals in Japan.
明日(あした)、祖母(そぼ)のお葬式(そうしき)がある。
My grandmother's funeral is tomorrow.
お葬式(そうしき)には黒(くろ)い服(ふく)を着(き)ていく。
You wear black clothes to a funeral.
お葬式(そうしき)で焼香(しょうこう)をした。
I offered incense at the funeral.
来週(らいしゅう)のお葬式(そうしき)に参列(さんれつ)するために地元(じもと)に帰(かえ)る。
I'm going back to my hometown to attend the funeral next week.
お葬式(そうしき)の準備(じゅんび)は大変(たいへん)だったが家族(かぞく)みんなで力(ちから)を合(あ)わせて無事(ぶじ)に終(お)わらせることができた。
The funeral preparations were tough, but the whole family worked together and managed to get everything done.

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お葬式(そうしき) is the polite form. The plain form 葬式(そうしき) is just as common; お葬式(そうしき) sounds softer.

RELATED WORDS (funeral customs):

Cultural note

  • 喪服(もふく): mourning clothes
  • Black suit for men, black dress for women
  • Avoid flashy jewelry and accessories

Common collocations

Related Words

Synonym: 葬式(そうしき) (funeral (plain))
Related: 通夜(つや) (wake)
Related: 告別式(こくべつしき) (farewell ceremony)
Related: 焼香(しょうこう) (offering incense)
Related: 香典(こうでん) (condolence money)
core
Added 2026.1.16 18:32 · Revised 2026.10.11 4:41
05500/05640_osoushiki