1.
year before an unlucky year; pre-calamity year
The year immediately preceding the main unlucky year (本厄) in the yakudoshi cycle. Considered a warning period when one should begin exercising caution.
来年は前厄だ。
Next year is my pre-calamity year.
前厄なので神社でお祓いをしてもらった。
Since it's my pre-calamity year, I had a purification performed at the shrine.
前厄から気をつけ始める人も多く、大きな決断を避けたり厄除けのお守りを持ったりする。
Many people start being careful from the pre-calamity year, avoiding major decisions and carrying protective charms.
Part of the 厄年 (unlucky year) cycle in Japanese folk belief. The three-year cycle consists of 前厄 → 本厄 (main unlucky year) → 後厄 (year after). 前厄 is the lead-in period, and many people already begin visiting shrines for 厄払い (purification) during this year.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 前厄に入る: to enter the pre-calamity year
- 前厄のお祓い: purification for the pre-calamity year
- 前厄から気をつける: to start being careful from the pre-calamity year
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 本厄: main unlucky year — the central and most critical year in the cycle
- 後厄: year after the unlucky year — the final year of the cycle, when misfortune is thought to be fading
- 厄年: unlucky year — the general term for the entire system
- 厄払い: purification ritual — the ceremony performed to ward off bad luck