1.
moon viewing
The traditional Japanese custom of admiring the autumn moon, especially the full moon in mid-September (十五夜). Involves displaying pampas grass and eating rice dumplings.
秋は月見の季節だ。
Autumn is the season for moon viewing.
縁側で月見をしながら団子を食べた。
I ate dumplings while viewing the moon from the veranda.
十五夜に家族で月見をするのが毎年の楽しみだ。
Viewing the moon with my family on the night of the harvest moon is something I look forward to every year.
2.
moon-viewing style (with a raw egg)
A style of serving food with a raw egg on top, where the yolk resembles the full moon. Common with soba, udon, and hamburgers.
月見そばを注文した。
I ordered a moon-viewing soba (soba with a raw egg).
月見うどんは卵が入っている。
Moon-viewing udon has an egg in it.
ファストフード店が秋限定の月見バーガーを発売して話題になった。
A fast-food chain made headlines by releasing a limited autumn moon-viewing burger.
CULTURE:
Moon viewing (月見/お{月見}) is one of Japan's traditional autumn customs, centered on 十五夜 (the 15th night of the 8th lunar month, usually mid-September). People display 薄 (pampas grass) and offer 月見団子 (rice dumplings) to appreciate the harvest moon.
Sense 2 comes from the resemblance of a raw egg yolk to the full moon. 月見そば and 月見うどん are standard menu items at noodle shops. McDonald's Japan's seasonal 月見バーガー has become a cultural event.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お月見: moon viewing (polite)
- 月見団子: moon-viewing dumplings
- 月見そば: soba with a raw egg
- 月見バーガー: moon-viewing burger (seasonal)