三さん元げん

noun

15th day of the 1st, 7th and 10th lunar months

Traditional term from the Chinese lunar calendar. Refers to the three 元 days: 上元 (1st month 15th), 中元 (7th month 15th), and 下元 (10th month 15th). Rare in modern Japanese outside historical or cultural contexts.

See also: 上元 · 中元 · 下元

• 三さん元げんは、上じょう元げん・中ちゅう元げん・下か元げんの総そう称しょうです。

  三元 is a collective term for 上元, 中元, and 下元.

noun

heaven, earth and man

Philosophical concept in East Asian thought, referring to the three fundamental elements of the universe. Rarely used in everyday conversation.

• 東とう洋よう思し想そうでは、三さん元げんは天てん・地ち・人じんを指さすことがあります。

  In Eastern thought, 三元 can refer to heaven, earth, and man.

noun

January 1; New Year's Day

Archaic term for New Year's Day. Modern Japanese uses 元旦 or 元日.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、三さん元げんが正しょう月がつを意い味みすることがあります。

  In old documents, 三元 can mean New Year's Day.

noun-modifying (irregular)

ternary

Chemistry term for a compound or system consisting of three components. Used prenominally (e.g., 三元化合物).

• 三さん元げん化か合ごう物ぶつの合ごう成せい方ほう法ほうを研けん究きゅうしています。

  We are researching synthesis methods for ternary compounds.