七回忌(ななかいき)

ななかいき
noun
seventh death anniversary memorial service
1. seventh death anniversary; memorial service held in the sixth year after a death
A Buddhist memorial service marking the seventh observance of someone's death. In Japanese tradition, it is held six years after the death (counted inclusively, so the death year is year 1).
父(ちち)の七回忌(ななかいき)を営(いとな)む。
To hold a seventh-year memorial service for my father.
来月(らいげつ)祖母(そぼ)の七回忌(ななかいき)がある。
My grandmother's seventh-year memorial is next month.
七回忌(ななかいき)法要(ほうよう)には親族(しんぞく)だけが集(あつ)まった。
Only close relatives gathered for the seventh-year memorial service.

Buddhist tradition counts memorial years inclusively: the death year is year 1, so the 七回忌(ななかいき) falls six calendar years later. After this point, attendance typically narrows to close family.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 七回忌(ななかいき)法要(ほうよう): seventh-year memorial service
  • 七回忌(ななかいき)を営(いとな)む: to hold the seventh-year service
  • 七回忌(ななかいき)法事(ほうじ): seventh-year memorial event

MEMORIAL SERVICE SEQUENCE:

  • 一周忌(いっしゅうき): 1 year after death
  • 三回忌(さんかいき): 2 years after death
  • 七回忌(ななかいき): 6 years after death
  • 十三回忌(じゅうさんかいき): 12 years after death
  • 三十三回忌(さんじゅうさんかいき): 32 years after death (often the final formal service)
general
Added 2026.6.8 13:06
28500/28963_nanakaiki