Refers to the period or practice of mourning, often involving ritual abstinence from certain activities. Commonly used in Shinto or traditional contexts.
A thing or action that is avoided for religious or superstitious reasons. Often used in compounds like 忌み言葉 (taboo words).
At funerals, 'cut' is a taboo word.
religious purification
Shinto purification practice; often involves abstaining from certain foods or activities to achieve ritual purity. The kanji 斎み is sometimes used for this sense.
The Shinto priest performs purification before attending the festival.
Prefix used in religious or formal contexts to indicate purity or sacredness. Found in words like 忌み清める (purify).
I abstain from meat and fish until the end of the mourning period.
Offer purified water before the altar.
detest; abhor; loathe
collecting herbs and pulling out young pine trees by the roots (annual event held on the first day of the Rat of the New Year)
unwanted child; shunned child
unlucky number
unlucky day; day of abstinence; death anniversary
Standard spelling for mourning, abstinence, and taboo senses.
Irregular okurigana usage; the standard form is 忌み.
Rare kanji form associated with religious purification; 忌み is more common.
Rare single-character spelling for purification; not commonly used.
Derived from the verb 忌む (imu, 'to avoid, to detest'), referring to things that are ritually avoided. The kanji 忌 carries the meaning of mourning and taboo, while 斎 is associated with purification.