Japanese word

回忌

Pronunciation

Romajikaiki

Meaning

  • noundeath anniversary

Example

祖父の三回忌は来月です。so fu no san kai ki wa rai getsu de su

The third anniversary of my grandfather's death is next month.

Illustration for 回忌 (death anniversary)

More examples

父の七回忌の法要は寺で行われます。chichi no nana kai ki no hō yō wa tera de okona wa re ma su

The memorial service marking the seventh anniversary of my father's death will be held at a temple.

Core concept

Refers to a recurring Buddhist ceremony that commemorates someone at a set interval after their death.

Common phrases

  • 七回忌を迎えるshichi kai ki o muka e ru

    reach the seventh death anniversary

  • 回忌の法要kai ki no hō yō

    death anniversary memorial service

  • 回忌を営むkai ki o itona mu

    hold a death anniversary memorial service

Similar words

年忌nenki: A Buddhist memorial observance held on a set anniversary of someone's death.

Definition in Japanese

故人の死後、決められた年数ごとに営む供養。また、その年回り。ko jin no shi go ki me ra re ta nen sū go to ni itona mu ku yō ma ta so no toshi mawa ri

Word origin

回忌 (kaiki) is a compound of 回 (kai, "time" or "round") and 忌 (ki, "mourning" or "memorial observance"), describing a memorial observance repeated after a death.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese memorial customs, 三回忌 (sankaiki, "third memorial observance") is held about two years after a person's death because the year of death counts as the first year.

Other meanings

  • memorial servicenoun

Word lists with this word