前 厄(まえやく)

まえやく

noun

year before an unlucky year; pre-calamity year

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(らいねん)は前厄(まえやく)だ。

Next year is my pre-calamity year.

前厄(まえやく)なので神社(じんじゃ)でお祓(はら)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(まえやく)から気(き)をつけ始(はじ)める人(ひと)も多(おお)く、大(おお)きな決断(けつだん)を避(さ)けたり厄除(やくよ)けのお守(まも)りを持(も)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(やくどし) (unlucky year) cycle in Japanese folk belief. The three-year cycle consists of 前厄(まえやく) → 本厄(ほんやく) (main unlucky year) → 後厄(あとやく) (year after). 前厄(まえやく) is the lead-in period, and many people already begin visiting shrines for 厄払(やくばら)い (purification) during this year.

Common collocations

前厄(まえやく)に入(はい)る: to enter the pre-calamity year
前厄(まえやく)のお祓(はら)い: purification for the pre-calamity year
前厄(まえやく)から気(き)をつける: to start being careful from the pre-calamity year

Similar words

本厄(ほんやく): main unlucky year — the central and most critical year in the cycle
後厄(あとやく): year after the unlucky year — the final year of the cycle, when misfortune is thought to be fading
厄年(やくどし): unlucky year — the general term for the entire system
厄払(やくばら)い: purification ritual — the ceremony performed to ward off bad luck

Related Words

Compare: 本厄(ほんやく) (main unlucky year)

Compare: 後厄(あとやく) (year after the unlucky year)

Compare: 厄年(やくどし) (unlucky year)

Compare: 厄払(やくばら)い (purification ritual)

general

Added 2026.4.27 20:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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