Japanese word

祭り

Pronunciation

Romajimatsuri

Meaning

  • nounfestival

Example

夏の祭りに行きます。natsu no matsu ri ni i ki ma su

I will go to the summer festival.

Illustration for 祭り (festival)

More examples

学校で祭りがあります。gak kō de matsu ri ga a ri ma su

There is a festival at school.

地域の祭りでは、みんなで踊りを楽しみます。chi iki no matsu ri de wa mi n na de odo ri o tano shi mi ma su

At the local festival, everyone enjoys dancing.

Core concept

Refers to a shared celebration that brings people together around a season, community, place, or religious tradition.

Common phrases

  • 祭りに行くmatsu ri ni i ku

    go to a festival

  • 祭りを楽しむmatsu ri o tano shi mu

    enjoy a festival

  • 祭りの準備matsu ri no jun bi

    festival preparations

Similar words

行事gyōji: A planned event held as part of a community or annual schedule.

Definition in Japanese

神や祖先をまつるための行事。また、季節や地域にちなんで人々が集まる催し。kami ya so sen o ma tsu ru ta me no gyō ji ma ta ki setsu ya chi iki ni chi na n de hito bito ga atsu ma ru moyō shi

Word origin

祭り (matsuri) is historically connected with 祭る (matsuru), "to perform a rite for a deity or spirit," and developed as a noun for the rite or event.

Usage tips

  • Japanese does not mark 祭り (matsuri) for singular or plural, so context determines whether it refers to one festival or festivals in general.

Word lists with this word