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土用の丑の日 (どようのうしのひ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

土ど用ようの丑うしの日ひ

Meanings

1

expression, noun

midsummer day of the ox

Refers to the day of the ox during the midsummer doyō period, traditionally associated with eating eel to beat the summer heat.

See also: 土用 · 丑の日

今年ことしの土ど用ようの丑うしの日ひは七しち月がつ二十はつ日かです。
This year's midsummer day of the ox is July 20th.
土ど用ようの丑うしの日ひにはうなぎを食たべる習しゅう慣かんがある。
There is a custom of eating eel on the midsummer day of the ox.

Kanji

土soil, earth, ground
用utilize, business, service
丑sign of the ox or cow, 1-3AM, second sign of Chinese zodiac
日

day, sun, Japan

Similar words

土ど用よう
土用 refers to the 18-day seasonal transition period, while 土用の丑の日 specifically denotes the day of the ox within that period.
丑うしの日ひ
丑の日 is a general term for any day of the ox in the traditional calendar, whereas 土用の丑の日 is the specific midsummer day associated with eating eel.

Etymology

Compound of 土用 (doyō, 'seasonal transition period') + の (no, possessive particle) + 丑の日 (ushi no hi, 'day of the ox'). The association with eating eel is said to have been popularized in the Edo period.