土ど用よう丑うしの日ひ

also: どようのうしのひ

Meanings

midsummer day of the ox

Refers to the day of the ox during the midsummer 'doyo' period, traditionally associated with eating eel to beat the summer heat. Often used in the context of the custom of eating unagi.

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

Related words

土ど用よう
Refers to the 18-day period before the start of each season; 土用丑の日 specifically picks out the day of the ox within the summer doyo period.
丑うしの日ひ
A day of the ox in the Chinese zodiac cycle; 土用丑の日 is the ox day that falls during the summer doyo period.

Built from

土ど用よう丑うし+日ひ

Written forms

土ど用よう丑うしの日ひ
Standard kanji spelling for this seasonal expression.
土ど用ようの丑うしの日ひ
Variant with の after 土用, also common; Cross-referenced with this form.

Etymology

Compound of 土用 (doyo, the seasonal transition period) + 丑の日 (ushi no hi, day of the ox). The custom of eating eel on this day is said to have been promoted in the Edo period.