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.
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