大晦日(おおみそか)

おおみそか
noun
New Year's Eve
1. New Year's Eve, December 31st
The last day of the year.
大晦日(おおみそか)は忙(いそが)しい。
New Year's Eve is busy.
大晦日(おおみそか)は紅白(こうはく)を見(み)る。
On New Year's Eve, we watch Kohaku.
NHK's annual music show
大晦日(おおみそか)に年越(としこ)しそばを食(た)べる。
To eat year-crossing soba on New Year's Eve.
Traditional custom for longevity
大晦日(おおみそか)の夜(よる)は家族(かぞく)みんなで過(す)ごす。
We spend New Year's Eve night together as a family.
大晦日(おおみそか)の夜(よる)には除夜(じょや)の鐘(かね)が聞(き)こえてきて、新(あたら)しい年(とし)が始(はじ)まるのを感(かん)じる。
On New Year's Eve, you can hear the temple bells ringing, and you feel the new year beginning.
Temple bells are rung 108 times at midnight

大晦日(おおみそか) is December 31st — the last day of the year. It is one of the most culturally significant days in Japan.

ETYMOLOGY:
晦日(みそか) means the last day of the month. 大(おお)晦日(みそか) is the 'great' last day — the last day of the year.

NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOMS:

  • 年越(としこ)しそば: eating soba noodles for longevity
  • 紅白歌合戦(こうはくうたがっせん): NHK's annual music show (Kohaku)
  • 除夜(じょや)の鐘(かね): temple bells rung 108 times at midnight
  • 大掃除(おおそうじ): year-end deep cleaning (done before 大晦日(おおみそか))

RELATED WORDS:

  • 元日(がんじつ): January 1st (New Year's Day)
  • 正月(しょうがつ): the New Year period
  • 年末(ねんまつ): year-end
core
Added 2026.1.16 17:49 · Revised 2026.3.26 21:02
05500/05810_oomisoka