Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

端午の節句 (tangonosekku) Japanese meaning: Boys' Day | Kotomora

端たん午ごの節せっ句く

た

ん

ご

の

せ

っ

く

Meanings

1

expression, noun

Boys' Day; Children's Day (May 5)

Traditional Japanese festival held on May 5th, originally celebrating boys' health and success. Now officially known as こどもの日 (Children's Day), but the term 端午の節句 is still widely used for the traditional celebration with carp streamers and samurai dolls.

See also: 端午

端たん午ごの節せっ句くには鯉こいのぼりを

飾かざ

り

ます

。

We display carp streamers for the Boys' Festival.

端たん午ごの節せっ句くにちまきを食たべる習しゅう慣かんがあります。

There is a custom of eating chimaki on Boys' Day.

Kanji

端edge, origin, end
午noon, sign of the horse, 11AM-1PM
節node, season, period
句phrase, clause, sentence

Related words

こどもの日ひN3
端午の節句 is the traditional name for the May 5th Boys' Festival, while こどもの日 is the modern, gender-neutral national holiday that absorbed it.

Opposites

ひな祭まつりN3
ひな祭り (March 3rd) celebrates girls, while 端午の節句 (May 5th) is the corresponding festival celebrating boys.

Etymology

端午 (Tango) originally referred to the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, and 節句 (sekku) means seasonal festival. The celebration evolved into a day for boys' health and success, incorporating customs like flying carp streamers and displaying warrior dolls.