忌日(きじつ)

忌(き) means 'mourning' or 'taboo,' and 日(じつ) means 'day.' 忌日(きじつ) marks the annual anniversary of a death. In Japanese Buddhist practice, specific memorial services (法要(ほうよう)) are held on these dates, particularly at intervals such as the first, third, seventh, and thirteenth anniversaries.

Alternate reading

This word can also be read as きにち. Both readings are standard.

Common collocations

• 忌日(きじつ)を迎(むか)える (to mark a death anniversary)
• 忌日(きじつ)に法要(ほうよう)を行(おこな)う (to hold a memorial service on the death anniversary)
• 一周忌(いっしゅうき) (first anniversary of death)

Cultural note

Famous historical and literary figures have named 忌日(きじつ). For example, the haiku poet 松尾(まつお)芭蕉(ばしょう)'s death anniversary is called 時雨忌(しぐれき) (Shigure-ki), and the novelist 夏目(なつめ)漱石(そうせき)'s is called 漱石忌(そうせきき).

Similar words

• 命日(めいにち) — death anniversary (the most common everyday word for this concept)
• 法要(ほうよう) — memorial service (the ceremony itself, not the date)
• 一周忌(いっしゅうき) — first anniversary of death (specific interval)