大吉(だいきち)

The highest-ranked fortune on an おみくじ (fortune slip) drawn at shrines and temples. 大(だい) means 'great' and 吉(きち) means 'good fortune.'

OMIKUJI FORTUNE RANKINGS (from best to worst):

• 大吉(だいきち) — great blessing
• 吉(きち) — blessing
• 中吉(ちゅうきち) — moderate blessing
• 小吉(しょうきち) — small blessing
• 末吉(すえきち) — near-blessing
• 凶(きょう) — bad luck
• 大凶(だいきょう) — terrible luck

Common collocations

• 大吉(だいきち)を引(ひ)く — to draw the best fortune
• 大吉(だいきち)が出(で)る — to get the best fortune
• おみくじで大吉(だいきち) — best fortune on an omikuji

Cultural note

Drawing おみくじ is a popular custom at 初詣(はつもうで) (first shrine visit of the year). Getting 大吉(だいきち) is considered very auspicious. Some people tie bad fortune slips to a tree at the shrine to leave the bad luck behind, while keeping 大吉(だいきち) slips.