noun
the year before a critical age; the year before an inauspicious year
Refers to the year immediately preceding a person's 厄年 (yakudoshi), a traditionally unlucky age in Japanese culture. Often associated with preventive rituals or visits to shrines.
See also: 厄年
来年は本厄だから、今年は前厄にあたる。
Next year is my main unlucky year, so this year is the year before it.
前厄のうちにお祓いを受ける人も多い。
Many people undergo purification rituals during the year before their critical age.
後厄 is the year after the unlucky year, completing the three-year period around 厄年.
Compound of 前 (mae, 'before') and 厄 (yaku, 'misfortune' or 'calamity'), referring to the year before a traditionally unlucky age.