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米の祝い (よねのいわい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

米よねの祝いわい

Meanings

1

expression, noun

88th birthday celebration; longevity celebration for turning 88

A traditional Japanese celebration for reaching the age of 88, derived from the kanji 米 (rice) which can be broken down into 八十八 (88).

祖そ父ふの米よねの祝いわいに家か族ぞくが集あつまった。
The family gathered for my grandfather's 88th birthday celebration.

Kanji

米rice, USA, metre
祝celebrate, congratulate

Similar words

米べい寿じゅ
米寿 is a more formal or written term for the 88th birthday celebration, while 米の祝い is a more descriptive phrase.
還かん暦れき
還暦 is the celebration of one's 60th birthday, a different milestone in the traditional Japanese longevity celebrations.

Etymology

The phrase comes from the kanji 米 (rice), which can be decomposed into the numbers 八十八 (88), symbolizing the age celebrated.