御神籤(おみくじ)

おみくじ
noun
fortune slip; omikuji; fortune paper
1. fortune slip; omikuji
A random fortune on paper obtained at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, predicting one's luck in various aspects of life. Common at New Year's visits.
初詣(はつもうで)で御神籤(おみくじ)を引(ひ)いた。
I drew an omikuji fortune during my New Year's shrine visit.
御神籤(おみくじ)は大吉(だいきち)だった。
My fortune was 'great blessing.'
凶(きょう)の御神籤(おみくじ)は木(き)に結(むす)んで帰(かえ)る。
You tie a bad fortune to a tree before leaving.

FORTUNE RANKINGS (best to worst):

  • 大吉(だいきち): Great blessing
  • 中吉(ちゅうきち): Middle blessing
  • 小吉(しょうきち): Small blessing
  • 吉(きち): Blessing
  • 末吉(すえきち): Future blessing
  • 凶(きょう): Bad luck
  • 大凶(だいきょう): Great bad luck

CATEGORIES:

OMIKUJI typically include predictions for:

  • 願事(ねがいごと): Wishes
  • 待人(まちびと): Person you're waiting for
  • 失(うせ)せ物(もの): Lost items
  • 旅行(りょこう): Travel
  • 商売(しょうばい): Business
  • 学問(がくもん): Studies
  • 恋愛(れんあい): Romance

CUSTOM:

  • Good fortunes: Keep or tie to a tree
  • Bad fortunes: Tie to a tree to leave the bad luck behind

Related Words

Related: 絵馬(えま) (votive tablet)
Related: 初詣(はつもうで) (first shrine visit)
general
Added 2026.1.17 2:26 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
05500/05959_omikuji