Japanese word

お祭り

Pronunciation

Romajiomatsuri

Meaning

  • nounfestival

Example

みんなでお祭りに行きます。mi n na de o matsu ri ni i ki ma su

We are all going to the festival.

Illustration for お祭り (festival)

More examples

去年の夏、家族とお祭りで金魚すくいを楽しみました。kyo nen no natsu ka zoku to o matsu ri de kin gyo su ku i o tano shi mi ma shi ta

Last summer, I enjoyed a goldfish scooping game at a festival with my family.

Core concept

Describes a communal celebration marked by shared activities, rituals, or entertainment.

Common phrases

  • お祭りに行くo matsu ri ni i ku

    go to a festival

  • お祭りを楽しむo matsu ri o tano shi mu

    enjoy a festival

  • お祭りの屋台o matsu ri no ya tai

    festival food stalls

  • お祭りで踊るo matsu ri de odo ru

    dance at a festival

Similar words

フェスティバルfesutibaru: A planned public event held for entertainment, culture, or a special occasion.

Definition in Japanese

神社や地域などで、行事や風物を楽しみながら人々が集う催し。jin ja ya chi iki na do de gyō ji ya fū butsu o tano shi mi na ga ra hito bito ga tsudo u moyō shi

Word origin

お祭り (omatsuri) is formed from お (o, "honorific prefix") and 祭り (matsuri, "festival"), the noun form of the verb 祭る (matsuru, "to hold a ritual for a deity").

Usage tips

  • In English discussions of Japan, お祭り (omatsuri) often includes neighborhood events with food stalls, processions, and traditional performances, not only religious ceremonies.

Other meanings

  • carnivalnoun

Word lists with this word