Japanese word

祭日

Pronunciation

Romajisaijitsu

Meaning

  • nounnational holiday

Example

明日は祭日です。asu wa sai jitsu de su

Tomorrow is a national holiday.

Illustration for 祭日 (national holiday)

More examples

祭日でも、駅前の店は営業しています。sai jitsu de mo eki mae no mise wa ei gyō shi te i ma su

Even on national holidays, the shops near the station are open.

Core concept

Marks a day set aside for a public celebration or national observance when ordinary work or school may pause.

Common phrases

  • 祭日に働くsai jitsu ni hatara ku

    work on a national holiday

  • 祭日を祝うsai jitsu o iwa u

    celebrate a national holiday

  • 祭日を除くsai jitsu o nozo ku

    excluding national holidays

Similar words

祝日shukujitsu: A public holiday set aside for a celebration or national observance.
国民の祝日kokuminnoshukujitsu: A legally designated public holiday in Japan.

Definition in Japanese

国が定めた、祭りや記念行事のために仕事や学校を休む日。kuni ga sada me ta matsu ri ya ki nen gyō ji no ta me ni shi goto ya gak kō o yasu mu hi

Word origin

祭日 (saijitsu) combines 祭 (sai, "ritual") and 日 (jitsu, "day"), giving the sense of a day set aside for a festival or public observance.

Usage tips

  • In modern Japan, 祭日 (saijitsu) can mean a national holiday, but official usage generally favors 祝日 (shukujitsu) or 国民の祝日 (kokumin no shukujitsu).

Other meanings

  • holidaynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word