還暦(かんれき)

かんれき
noun
60th birthday, sexagenary cycle completion
1. 60th birthday, completion of the sexagenary cycle
The celebration of one's 60th birthday, marking the completion of the traditional Chinese zodiac cycle.
父(ちち)が還暦(かんれき)を迎(むか)えた。
My father turned 60.
還暦(かんれき)のお祝(いわ)いをする。
To celebrate someone's 60th birthday.
還暦(かんれき)には赤(あか)いちゃんちゃんこを着(き)る。
People wear a red vest for their 60th birthday.
Traditional custom

還暦(かんれき) literally means "return to the calendar" — it marks the completion of one full 60-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac (12 animals × 5 elements), after which the cycle starts again.

TRADITIONS:
The celebrant traditionally receives a 赤(あか)いちゃんちゃんこ (red padded vest). Red symbolizes rebirth, as the person begins a "new" cycle of life.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 還暦(かんれき)を迎(むか)える: to reach one's 60th birthday
  • 還暦(かんれき)のお祝(いわ)い: 60th birthday celebration
  • 還暦(かんれき)祝(いわ)い: 60th birthday gift/celebration

OTHER MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS:

  • 古希(こき) (70), 喜寿(きじゅ) (77), 傘寿(さんじゅ) (80)
  • 米寿(べいじゅ) (88), 卒寿(そつじゅ) (90), 白寿(はくじゅ) (99)

Related Words

Related: 干支(えと) (zodiac cycle)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:49 · Revised 2026.4.16 13:18
05500/05807_kanreki