初はつ詣もうで

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つ

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で

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

first shrine visit of the New Year

Refers to the traditional Japanese custom of visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple during the first few days of the new year, typically from January 1st to 3rd.

毎まい年とし、家か族ぞくで初はつ詣もうでに行いきます。
Every year, I go to the first shrine visit of the New Year with my family.
初はつ詣もうでおみくじを引ひいた。
I drew a fortune slip at the first shrine visit of the New Year.

See all 55 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場所ばしょ〉〉に初詣はつもうでに行いくto go to (a shrine/temple) for the first visit of the New Year
毎まい年とし、明めい治じ神じん宮ぐうに初はつ詣もうでに行いきます。
Every year I go to Meiji Shrine for my first shrine visit of the New Year.
〈人ひ〉と初詣〉とはつもうでに行いくto go for the first shrine visit of the year with someone
家か族ぞくと初はつ詣もうでに行いくのが毎まい年としの楽たのしみだ。
Going for the first shrine visit with my family is something I look forward to every year.
初詣はつもうでに出でかけるto head out for the first shrine visit of the year
元がん日じつの朝あさ早はやく、初はつ詣もうでに出でかけた。
Early on New Year's morning, we headed out for our first shrine visit.

Kanji

初first time, beginning
詣visit a temple, arrive, attain

Related words

初はつ参まいり
初詣 is the standard modern term for the New Year's shrine visit, while 初参り is an older or regional synonym for the same custom.
年ねん始しN1
初詣 specifically means the first shrine or temple visit of the year, while 年始 broadly covers all New Year's activities like greetings and visits.
参まいり
初詣 refers specifically to the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year, while 参り is a general term usable for any religious visit.

Don't confuse with

初はつ日ひの出で
初詣 is the custom of visiting a shrine or temple early in the New Year, while 初日の出 refers specifically to watching the year's first sunrise, a separate activity often done around the same time.

Written forms

初はつ詣もうでUsage84%
Standard kanji spelling; widely used in signs, news, and everyday writing.
初はつ詣もうでUsage13%
Common variant with okurigana で; equally natural and often seen in print.
初はつもうでUsage3%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kana-kanji mixed form; not a standard spelling but may help learners find the word.
はつもうでUsage1%

Etymology

Formed from 初, “first,” and 詣で, the noun form of 詣でる, “to visit a shrine or temple.”