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祭典 (さいてん, saiten) Japanese meaning: festival | Kotomora

祭さい典てん

さ

い

て

ん

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

festival; ceremony; celebration

Refers to a formal or organized festival, often with a ceremonial or commemorative character. Can be used for religious, cultural, or public events.

町まちの祭さい典てんには

多おお

く

の

人ひと

が

集あつ

まっ

た

。

Many people gathered for the town festival.

開かい会かい式しきは厳おごそかな祭さい典てんだった。

The opening ceremony was a solemn celebration.

Usage patterns

祭さい典てんを開かい催さいするto hold a festival/ceremony
来らい月げつ、平へい和わの祭さい典てんが開かい催さいされる。
A festival of peace will be held next month.
〈事こと〉の祭さい典てんa festival/celebration of〈something〉
オリンピックはスポーツの祭さい典てんと呼よばれる。
The Olympics are called a festival of sports.
祭さい典てんに参さん加かするto take part in a festival/ceremony
多おおくの国くにが祭さい典てんに参さん加かした。
Many countries took part in the ceremony.

Kanji

祭ritual, offer prayers, celebrate
典code, ceremony, law

Related words· 6

祭まつりN4
祭り is the common, everyday word for a lively traditional festival with stalls and portable shrines, while 祭典 is more formal and stresses the ceremonial or commemorative side of an event.
式しき典てん
式典 refers to a formal ceremony such as a graduation or awards event, whereas 祭典 keeps a broader festive or celebratory nuance alongside the ceremonial one.
ビッグイベント
祭典 is a more formal, often ceremonial word for a grand festival or celebration, whereas ビッグイベント is a casual katakana term used broadly in media and marketing.
祭さい礼れい
祭典 is a formal term for a large, often solemn ceremonial festival, while 祭礼 more directly emphasizes the religious ritual behind the festival.

Show 2 more

大たい祭さい
祭典 is a formal, somewhat literary word for a grand ceremony or festival, while 大祭 is used specifically for major religious/traditional festivals such as shrine celebrations.
儀ぎ式しきN2
祭典 suggests a festive, celebratory event open to the public, while 儀式 is typically solemn and procedural.

Etymology

Compound of 祭 (sai, 'festival, ritual') and 典 (ten, 'ceremony, rite'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally conveys a formal festive event.