通つ夜や

つ

や

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

wake; all-night vigil over a body

A Buddhist ceremony held the night before a funeral, where family and friends stay with the deceased, often involving prayers and offerings. The honorific form is 御通夜 (おつや).

Usage patterns

通つ夜やを行おこなうto hold a wake
遺い族ぞくは自じ宅たくで通つ夜やを行おこなうことにした。
The bereaved family decided to hold the wake at their home.
通つ夜やに参さん列れつするto attend a wake
上じょう司しの通つ夜やに参さん列れつした。
I attended my boss's wake.
通つ夜やに出でるto go to/attend a wake
遠えん方ぽうだが、恩おん師しの通つ夜やに出でるつもりだ。
It's far away, but I plan to attend my mentor's wake.

Kanji

通traffic, pass through, avenue
夜night, evening

Politeness

お通つ夜やhonorific 尊敬語
御通夜 is the honorific way of referring to someone else's 通夜, showing respect when speaking of another person's wake.

Don't confuse with

葬そう式しきN3
通夜 is the all-night vigil held the evening before, while 葬式 is the funeral ceremony itself that follows it.

Word family

お通つ夜や
wake; all-night vigil over a body
半はん通つ夜や
partial wake; vigil not lasting the full night
通つ夜や見み舞まい
sending food to a wake
通つ夜や振ぶる舞まい
wake reception; post-wake meal and drinks

Written forms

通夜Usage100%
- つや
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading つや is the most common.
- つうや
  rarely-used kana form
つうや
rarely-used kana form

Etymology

From 通 (passing through the night) and 夜 (night), referring to staying awake through the night to watch over the deceased.