noun
warding off evil; protection against misfortune
Refers to the act of averting bad luck or evil spirits, often through charms, rituals, or amulets. Commonly used in religious and superstitious contexts.
お守りは厄除けのために持っている。
I carry an amulet for protection against evil.
節分に豆をまくのは厄除けの意味がある。
Throwing beans on Setsubun has the meaning of warding off evil.
厄払い also means driving away evil or misfortune, but often implies a more active exorcism or purification ritual, while 厄除け focuses on prevention and protection.
Compound of 厄 (yaku, 'misfortune, evil') and 除け (yoke, the nominalized stem of 除ける, 'to remove, exclude'). Literally 'removing misfortune'.