1.
main unlucky year; principal calamity year
The central and most critical year in the yakudoshi cycle, when one is believed to be most susceptible to misfortune. The ages differ for men and women.
今年は本厄だから気をつけよう。
This year is my main unlucky year, so I should be careful.
本厄を迎えて、厄払いに行ってきた。
Having reached my main unlucky year, I went to have a purification ritual performed.
男性の大厄は数え年で42歳で、この本厄の年には大きな決断を避けるべきだと言われている。
The great calamity year for men is age 42 by traditional counting, and it is said that one should avoid making major decisions during this main unlucky year.
Part of the 厄年 (unlucky year) system in Japanese folk belief. The 厄年 cycle consists of three years: 前厄 (the year before), 本厄 (the main year), and 後厄 (the year after). 本厄 is the peak year when misfortune is considered most likely.
The main 厄年 ages (by traditional counting, 数え年) are:
- Men: 25, 42 (大厄), 61
- Women: 19, 33 (大厄), 37, 61
Many Japanese visit shrines for 厄払い (purification rites) during their 本厄.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 本厄を迎える: to reach one's main unlucky year
- 本厄の厄払い: purification for the main unlucky year
- 本厄の年: the year of one's main yakudoshi
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 前厄: the year before the main unlucky year — considered a warning period
- 後厄: the year after the main unlucky year — misfortune is fading but caution remains
- 大厄: the greatest unlucky year — the most feared year (42 for men, 33 for women)
- 厄年: unlucky year — the general term for the entire yakudoshi system