後厄(あとやく)

あとやく
noun
year after an unlucky year; post-calamity year
culturereligion
1. year after an unlucky year; post-calamity year
The year immediately following the main unlucky year (本厄) in the yakudoshi cycle. Considered the final year of the calamity period, when bad luck is gradually fading but caution is still advised.
今年(ことし)は後厄(あとやく)だからまだ油断(ゆだん)できない。
This year is my post-calamity year, so I still can't let my guard down.
後厄(あとやく)が終(お)わって、やっと安心(あんしん)した。
I was finally relieved when my post-calamity year ended.
後厄(あとやく)の年(とし)にも厄払(やくばら)いに行(い)く人(ひと)は少(すく)なくなく、三年間(さんねんかん)を通(とお)して慎重(しんちょう)に過(す)ごす人(ひと)もいる。
Not a few people go for purification even in the post-calamity year, and some spend all three years cautiously.

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) (pre-calamity year) → 本厄(ほんやく) (main unlucky year) → 後厄(あとやく). Even during 後厄(あとやく), many people continue to exercise caution, as misfortune is believed to linger.

Common collocations

  • 後厄(あとやく)が終(お)わる: for the post-calamity year to end
  • 後厄(あとやく)の年(とし): the year of one's post-calamity period
  • 後厄(あとやく)も気(き)をつける: to be careful even in the post-calamity year

Similar words

  • 前厄(まえやく): pre-calamity year — the warning year before the main unlucky year
  • 本厄(ほんやく): main unlucky year — the peak of the calamity cycle
  • 厄年(やくどし): unlucky year — the general term for the entire system
  • 厄明(やくあ)け: end of the unlucky period — when all three years have passed

Related Words

Compare: 前厄(まえやく) (pre-calamity year)
Compare: 本厄(ほんやく) (main unlucky year)
Compare: 厄年(やくどし) (unlucky year)
general
Added 2026.4.27 20:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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