noun
year before an unlucky year
Refers to the year immediately before a person's yakudoshi (unlucky age). In Japanese folk belief, this year is also considered inauspicious and may require caution or purification rituals.
来年は本厄だから、今年は厄前にあたる。
Next year is my main unlucky year, so this year is the year before it.
厄前にもお祓いを受ける人もいる。
Some people also undergo purification in the year before their unlucky year.