厄年
Meanings
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
This year is my unlucky year, so I had a purification ceremony at a shrine.
He fell seriously ill in his unlucky year at age 42.
bad year; annus horribilis
Extended figurative use for any year filled with misfortune, not necessarily tied to the traditional ages.
Last year I lost my job and got divorced—it was truly an annus horribilis.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉が厄年に当たるto be in one's unlucky year
I heard this is his unlucky year.
- 厄年を迎えるto reach one's unlucky year (age)
My father is about to enter his unlucky year.
- 厄年のお祓いをするto have a purification ritual performed for one's unlucky year
I had a purification ritual done at the shrine for my unlucky year.
- 〈年〉は厄年だった(a given year) was a year full of misfortune
Last year was truly a year of misfortune—one accident and illness after another.