しきたり
しきたり
noun
custom; convention; established practice
1.
custom; convention; established practice; tradition
An unwritten rule or practice handed down within a group, family, or community. Often refers to social customs that people follow out of long-standing habit rather than formal rules.
この地域のしきたりに従う。
I follow the customs of this area.
古いしきたりにこだわる必要はない。
There's no need to cling to old customs.
嫁ぎ先のしきたりが厳しくて、慣れるまで大変だった。
The customs of my husband's family were strict, and it was hard to get used to them.
Refers to practices passed down through generations within a specific group, family, or locality. Differs from 伝統 (tradition), which is broader and more formal.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- しきたりに従う (to follow a custom)
- しきたりを守る (to observe/maintain a custom)
- しきたりを破る (to break with custom)
- 古いしきたり (old customs)
USAGE NOTE:
しきたり often carries a nuance of something that "has always been done this way" — it may feel obligatory even though it is not a formal law. It is sometimes used with a slightly negative nuance, suggesting outdated or rigid practices.