1.
summer greeting card; midsummer greeting
A seasonal greeting card or message sent during the hottest part of summer (roughly mid-July to early August) to inquire after someone's well-being. One of several traditional seasonal greeting customs in Japan, along with New Year's cards.
暑中見舞いを出した。
I sent out summer greeting cards.
先生に暑中見舞いのハガキを書いた。
I wrote a summer greeting postcard to my teacher.
暑中見舞い申し上げます。
I extend my midsummer greetings to you. (standard opening phrase)
立秋を過ぎたら暑中見舞いではなく残暑見舞いになる。
After the start of autumn on the traditional calendar, it becomes a late-summer greeting rather than a midsummer greeting.
Composed of 暑中 (the heat of midsummer; the hottest period) and 見舞い (inquiry after someone's health; a visit or greeting of sympathy). Literally "midsummer health inquiry."
This is one of Japan's important seasonal correspondence customs. Cards are sent during the period called 暑中, roughly from mid-July until 立秋 (start of autumn, around August 7). After 立秋, the same type of greeting shifts to 残暑見舞い (late-summer greeting).
The standard opening phrase on these cards is 暑中お見舞い申し上げます, a highly formal expression of seasonal well-wishing.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 暑中見舞いを出す: to send summer greeting cards
- 暑中見舞いのハガキ: summer greeting postcard
- 暑中見舞い申し上げます: standard summer greeting phrase
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 年賀状: New Year's card — the other major seasonal greeting card tradition
- 残暑見舞い: late-summer greeting — sent after 立秋, when the summer heat lingers
- 寒中見舞い: midwinter greeting — the winter equivalent