1.
day of shared fortune (in the six-day calendar cycle); a day when good/bad luck is believed to spread to friends
One of the six days in the rokuyo calendar cycle.
今日は友引だ。
Today is tomobiki.
友引の日に葬式は避けるべきだとされている。
It is said that funerals should be avoided on tomobiki days.
結婚式の日取りを決める際、友引は縁起がいいとされる。
When choosing a wedding date, tomobiki is considered auspicious.
One of the six days in the 六曜 (rokuyo) calendar system, which cycles through: 先勝, 友引, 先負, 仏滅, 大安, and 赤口. The name literally means "pulling friends along," implying that fortune — whether good or bad — will be shared with those close to you.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 友引の日: a tomobiki day
- 友引に葬式を避ける: to avoid funerals on tomobiki
- 友引に結婚式を挙げる: to hold a wedding on tomobiki
CULTURAL NOTES:
Funerals are strongly avoided on 友引 because of the superstition that the deceased will "pull" a living friend along to the afterlife. Many crematoriums are closed on this day. Conversely, weddings and celebrations are considered favorable, since the happiness will be "shared" with friends. While younger generations may not observe these customs strictly, they still influence scheduling of major life events in Japan.
RELATED TERMS:
- 六曜: the six-day calendar cycle
- 大安: most auspicious day in the cycle
- 仏滅: most inauspicious day in the cycle