中秋(ちゅうしゅう)

ちゅうしゅう
noun
mid-autumn; the height of autumn
formaltime-generalculture
1. mid-autumn; the height of autumn
The middle of autumn — in the traditional lunar calendar, the 15th day of the 8th month, corresponding to September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. Strongly associated with moon viewing.
The mid-autumn moon is especially beautiful.
We enjoyed the harvest moon as a family.
中秋(ちゅうしゅう)の時期(じき)にはススキと月見団子(つきみだんご)を供(そな)える習慣(しゅうかん)がある。
In mid-autumn there is a custom of offering pampas grass and moon-viewing dumplings.

中(ちゅう) (middle) + 秋(しゅう) (autumn). A largely literary or formal word; the everyday phrase for the season would be 秋(あき)の半(なか)ば.

Cultural note

中秋(ちゅうしゅう)節(せつ) ('Mid-Autumn Festival') is observed across East Asia. In Japan, the 中秋(ちゅうしゅう)の名月(めいげつ) (harvest moon) is the centerpiece of 月見(つきみ) (moon viewing), traditionally celebrated with pampas grass (薄(すすき)) and 月見団子(つきみだんご) (round moon-viewing dumplings).

Common collocations

  • 中秋(ちゅうしゅう)の名月(めいげつ): harvest moon
  • 中秋(ちゅうしゅう)の頃(ころ): around mid-autumn
  • 中秋節(ちゅうしゅうせつ): Mid-Autumn Festival

Related words