本厄(ほんやく)

ほんやく
noun
main unlucky year; principal calamity year
culturereligion
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(ことし)は本厄(ほんやく)だから気(き)をつけよう。
This year is my main unlucky year, so I should be careful.
本厄(ほんやく)を迎(むか)えて、厄払(やくばら)いに行(い)ってきた。
Having reached my main unlucky year, I went to have a purification ritual performed.
男性(だんせい)の大厄(たいやく)は数(かぞ)え年(どし)で42歳(さい)で、この本厄(ほんやく)の年(とし)には大(おお)きな決断(けつだん)を避(さ)けるべきだと言(い)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(やくどし) (unlucky year) system in Japanese folk belief. The 厄年(やくどし) cycle consists of three years: 前厄(まえやく) (the year before), 本厄(ほんやく) (the main year), and 後厄(あとやく) (the year after). 本厄(ほんやく) is the peak year when misfortune is considered most likely.

The main 厄年(やくどし) ages (by traditional counting, 数(かぞ)え年(どし)) are:

  • Men: 25, 42 (大厄(たいやく)), 61
  • Women: 19, 33 (大厄(たいやく)), 37, 61

Many Japanese visit shrines for 厄払(やくばら)い (purification rites) during their 本厄(ほんやく).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 前厄(まえやく): the year before the main unlucky year — considered a warning period
  • 後厄(あとやく): the year after the main unlucky year — misfortune is fading but caution remains
  • 大厄(たいやく): the greatest unlucky year — the most feared year (42 for men, 33 for women)
  • 厄年(やくどし): unlucky year — the general term for the entire yakudoshi system

Related Words

Compare: 前厄(まえやく) (the year before the main unlucky year)
Compare: 後厄(あとやく) (the year after the main unlucky year)
Compare: 厄年(やくどし) (unlucky year)
general
Added 2026.4.22 19:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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