1.
death anniversary; anniversary of someone's death
The annual anniversary of a person's death. In Japanese Buddhist tradition, memorial services are held on these dates. Also read as きにち.
祖母の忌日にお墓参りをする。
I visit the grave on my grandmother's death anniversary.
芭蕉の忌日は十月十二日だ。
Basho's death anniversary is October 12th.
毎年父の忌日には家族で集まって法要を行う。
Every year on my father's death anniversary, the family gathers for a memorial service.
忌 means 'mourning' or 'taboo,' and 日 means 'day.' 忌日 marks the annual anniversary of a death. In Japanese Buddhist practice, specific memorial services (法要) 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:
- 忌日を迎える (to mark a death anniversary)
- 忌日に法要を行う (to hold a memorial service on the death anniversary)
- 一周忌 (first anniversary of death)
CULTURAL NOTE:
Famous historical and literary figures have named 忌日. For example, the haiku poet 松尾芭蕉's death anniversary is called 時雨忌 (Shigure-ki), and the novelist 夏目漱石's is called 漱石忌.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 命日 — death anniversary (the most common everyday word for this concept)
- 法要 — memorial service (the ceremony itself, not the date)
- 一周忌 — first anniversary of death (specific interval)