midsummer; dog days of summer
In everyday use, 土用 almost always refers to the hottest period of summer, roughly late July through early August. Often associated with eating eel (土用の丑の日).
There is a custom of eating eel on the Day of the Ox during the midsummer period.
final 18 days of each season
Traditional calendar term: the last 18 days of each of the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Rare in modern conversation except in set phrases or almanac contexts.
This year's midsummer is especially hot.
On the traditional calendar, the 18 days before the start of autumn correspond to the summer 土用.
day of the ox in midsummer; dog days of summer
high waves during the dog days of summer
doyō mochi; mochi eaten during the dog days of summer
summer vacation; summer break
summer airing of clothes
From the Chinese-derived five-phases calendar, in which 土 governs a transitional period of about eighteen days before each new season.