Translation guide
A traditional Japanese ceremony celebrating a child's transition from milk to solid food, typically held around 100 days after birth.
The specific Japanese ceremony called 'okuizome' where a baby symbolically eats solid food for the first time.
The standard term for the traditional Japanese weaning ceremony, held around 100 days after birth. The baby is offered a full-course meal (usually fish, rice, soup, and pickles) but doesn't actually eat it; it's a symbolic gesture wishing the child will never go hungry.
Referring to a weaning ceremony in a non-Japanese cultural context, or explaining the concept in English.
A direct translation meaning 'weaning ceremony'. Use this when describing a similar custom from another culture, or when the Japanese listener is unfamiliar with お食い初め.
この文化では、離乳の儀式が大切にされています。
In this culture, the weaning ceremony is highly valued.
お食い初め is a uniquely Japanese tradition. If you're talking about a similar ceremony in another culture, it's better to use a descriptive phrase like 離乳の儀式 or explain the custom, rather than using お食い初め, which specifically refers to the Japanese ritual.
We're holding our son's weaning ceremony next week.
お食い初めの料理を準備する。
Prepare the dishes for the weaning ceremony.
Literally '100-day celebration', this term emphasizes the timing (around 100 days after birth) and is often used interchangeably with お食い初め, though it can also refer to the general celebration rather than specifically the eating ritual.
百日祝いの写真を撮りました。
We took photos of the 100-day celebration.
A less common term literally meaning 'chopstick gathering', referring to the part of the ceremony where the baby is given chopsticks for the first time. Sometimes used regionally or in older texts.
箸揃えの儀式を行います。
We perform the chopstick ceremony.
A more descriptive phrase: 'ceremony to start solid foods'. Useful when explaining the concept to someone unfamiliar with the term.
離乳食を始める儀式について教えてください。
Please tell me about the ceremony for starting solid foods.