松(まつ)の内(うち)

まつのうち
noun
New Year period (while pine decorations are up)
time-periodculture
1. the New Year period (while the pine decorations are up)
The first days of the year during which 門松(かどまつ) and other New Year decorations stay up: until January 7 in most of Japan, until January 15 in parts of the Kansai region.
松(まつ)の内(うち)が明(あ)ける。
The New Year period ends.
松(まつ)の内(うち)のうちに年賀状(ねんがじょう)の返事(へんじ)を出(だ)した。
I sent replies to my New Year's cards while it was still the New Year period.
松(まつ)の内(うち)を過(す)ぎてから新年(しんねん)の挨拶(あいさつ)をするときは、「寒中見舞(かんちゅうみま)い」にするのが一般的(いっぱんてき)だ。
After the New Year period is over, it is usual to send a midwinter greeting instead of a New Year greeting.

松(まつ) (pine, from the 門松(かどまつ) pine decorations) + の内(うち) (within).

Common collocations

  • 松(まつ)の内(うち)が明(あ)ける: the New Year period ends
  • 松(まつ)の内(うち)に: during the New Year period
  • 松(まつ)の内(うち)を過(す)ぎる: to be past the New Year period

Cultural note

New Year greetings and cards (年賀状(ねんがじょう)) belong to the 松(まつ)の内(うち); after it, people say 寒中(かんちゅう)お見舞(みま)い申(もう)し上(あ)げます instead. The decorations are taken down when it ends.

general
Added 2026.10.10 4:06 · Revised 2026.10.10 4:07
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