1.
misfortune, bad luck, calamity
Ill fortune or disaster that befalls someone, often thought to have a supernatural or karmic cause.
厄を払う。
Ward off misfortune.
神社で厄を落としてもらった。
I had my misfortune cleansed at a shrine.
今年は厄が多い年だった。
This year was a year full of misfortune.
2.
unlucky age, critical age
Specific ages in Japanese superstition considered prone to misfortune (yakudoshi). Traditionally 25, 42, and 61 for men; 19, 33, and 37 for women.
来年厄に当たる。
Next year falls on an unlucky age.
厄の年には大きな決断を避けたほうがいい。
It's better to avoid major decisions during your unlucky year.
厄が明けたので、やっと安心した。
My unlucky period is over, so I'm finally relieved.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 厄を払う (ward off misfortune)
- 厄を落とす (cleanse misfortune)
- 厄に当たる (fall on an unlucky age)
- 厄が明ける (unlucky period ends)
- 厄年 (unlucky year/age)
USAGE NOTES:
The concept of 厄年 (unlucky ages) is deeply rooted in Japanese folk belief. The most feared unlucky ages are 大厄: 42 for men and 33 for women, both of which have wordplay associations with death (四十二 sounds like 死に, and 三十三 like 散々). Many people visit shrines for 厄払い (misfortune-cleansing rituals) at these ages.