1.
death anniversary; anniversary of someone's death
The date on which a person died, observed annually as a day of remembrance. In Japanese Buddhism, this day holds special significance for memorial services and visiting graves.
今日は祖父の命日だ。
Today is the anniversary of my grandfather's death.
命日には毎年墓参りに行く。
I visit the grave every year on the anniversary of the death.
母の命日に家族で集まり、好きだった花を供えた。
On the anniversary of my mother's death, the family gathered and offered her favorite flowers.
USAGE:
An important concept in Japanese Buddhist tradition. On the 命日, families typically visit the grave (墓参り), offer flowers and incense, and hold memorial services. The first anniversary is called 一周忌, and subsequent major anniversaries (三回忌, 七回忌, etc.) are observed with formal ceremonies.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 命日に墓参りする (to visit the grave on the death anniversary)
- 命日に花を供える (to offer flowers on the death anniversary)
- ～の命日 (the anniversary of ~'s death)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 忌日: death anniversary — more formal/literary
- 祥月命日: the monthly anniversary falling on the same day as the death — the full-year anniversary specifically