桑そう年ねん

noun

48 years of age

Rare literary term for the age of 48, using the kanji 桑 (mulberry) as a traditional numeric substitute. Not used in everyday conversation; modern Japanese would simply say 四十八歳.

• 桑そう年ねんを迎むかえたことを記き念ねんして、句く会かいが開ひらかれた。

  A haiku gathering was held to commemorate reaching the age of 48.