noun
unlucky year; critical year
In traditional Japanese belief (originally from Onmyōdō), specific ages are considered unlucky: 25 and 42 for men, 19 and 33 for women. People often take precautions or perform rituals during these years.
See also: 陰陽道
今年は私の厄年だから、神社でお祓いをしてもらった。
This year is my unlucky year, so I had a purification ceremony at a shrine.
彼は42歳の厄年に大病を患った。
He fell seriously ill in his unlucky year at age 42.
noun
bad year; annus horribilis
Extended figurative use for any year filled with misfortune, not necessarily tied to the traditional ages.
去年は失業と離婚が重なって、まさに厄年だった。
Last year I lost my job and got divorced—it was truly an annus horribilis.