1.
December (traditional Japanese month name)
The traditional name for the twelfth month. One of the most widely known of the old month names (和風月名). The kanji 師 (master, teacher) + 走 (run) reflect the folk etymology that even Buddhist priests are so busy at year-end that they run around. Still commonly used in modern Japanese, especially in seasonal greetings and media.
師走に入り、街は慌ただしくなった。
December arrived and the streets became hectic.
師走は忘年会やクリスマスで忙しい。
December is busy with year-end parties and Christmas.
師走の慌ただしさの中、年賀状を書く時間がなかなか取れない。
In the hectic rush of December, it's hard to find time to write New Year's cards.
ETYMOLOGY:
The folk etymology is that 師 (Buddhist priests/teachers) 走る (run) because December is so busy with year-end Buddhist ceremonies. While this explanation is widely known, the true etymology is uncertain.
CULTURE:
師走 is one of the few traditional month names that remains in active everyday use. It evokes the particular busyness of December in Japan: 大掃除 (year-end cleaning), 忘年会 (year-end parties), 年賀状 (New Year's cards), and holiday preparations.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 師走の忙しさ (the busyness of December)
- 師走に入る (to enter December)
- 師走の風物詩 (things characteristic of December)