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.

TYPES (fortunes, 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

Types

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

CULTURAL NOTE (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 2026.10.11 4:26

05500/05959_omikuji