Japanese word

彼岸

Pronunciation

Romajihigan

Meaning

  • nounequinoctial week

Example

春の彼岸には墓参りをします。haru no hi gan ni wa haka mai ri o shi ma su

During the spring equinoctial week, we visit the family grave.

Illustration for 彼岸 (equinoctial week)

More examples

彼岸の入りには、仏壇に花を供えます。hi gan no i ri ni wa butsu dan ni hana o sona e ma su

At the beginning of the equinoctial week, we place flowers on the household altar.

Core concept

Refers to the seven-day period centered on an equinox, linked to the Buddhist idea of crossing from this shore to the other shore.

Common phrases

  • 彼岸の入りhi gan no i ri

    the beginning of the equinoctial week

  • 彼岸の中日hi gan no chū nichi

    the middle day of the equinoctial week

  • 彼岸参りhi gan mai ri

    a visit to a family grave during the equinoctial week

Definition in Japanese

春分または秋分の日を中日として、その前後三日を合わせた七日間で、仏事や墓参りを行う時期。shun bun ma ta wa shū bun no hi o chū nichi to shi te so no zen go mik ka o a wa se ta nano ka kan de butsu ji ya haka mai ri o okona u ji ki

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound combines 彼 (hi, "that") and 岸 (gan, "shore"), literally meaning "the other shore"; its Buddhist sense gave the equinoctial observance its name.

Usage tips

  • The common form お彼岸 (ohigan) adds the polite prefix お (o) to 彼岸 (higan), a pattern also found in many everyday Japanese words.

Other meanings

  • the other shorenoun

Word lists with this word