noun
Refers to the period or practice of mourning, often involving ritual abstinence from certain activities. Commonly used in Shinto or traditional contexts.
忌み明けまで、肉や魚を食べない。
I abstain from meat and fish until the end of the mourning period.
noun
A thing or action that is avoided for religious or superstitious reasons. Often used in compounds like 忌み言葉 (taboo words).
葬式では「切る」は忌み言葉だ。
At funerals, 'cut' is a taboo word.
noun
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.
神主は斎みを行ってから祭りに臨む。
The Shinto priest performs purification before attending the festival.
noun, used as a prefix
Prefix used in religious or formal contexts to indicate purity or sacredness. Found in words like 忌み清める (purify).
忌み清めた水を神前に供える。
Offer purified water before the altar.
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.