Japanese Conversation · Level 110
60 words
Japanese word
通夜
Pronunciation
Romajitsuya
Meaning
- nounwake
Example
祖父の通夜は明日です。so fu no tsu ya wa asu de su
My grandfather's wake is tomorrow.
More examples
通夜では、故人をしのぶ時間を過ごします。tsu ya de wa ko jin o shi no bu ji kan o su go shi ma su
At the wake, people spend time remembering the deceased.
Core concept
It describes a time when mourners gather around the deceased before the funeral, with the night serving as a quiet period of farewell.
Common phrases
通夜に参列するtsu ya ni san retsu su ru
attend a wake
通夜を行うtsu ya o okona u
hold a wake
通夜の席tsu ya no seki
at the wake
Similar words
夜伽yotogi: A night spent keeping vigil beside a deceased person before the funeral.
Definition in Japanese
葬儀に先立つ夜に、遺族や親しい人々が故人に付き添い、別れを惜しむ儀式。sō gi ni saki da tsu yoru ni i zoku ya shita shi i hito bito ga ko jin ni tsu ki so i waka re o o shi mu gi shiki
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 通夜 (tsuya, "wake") joins 通 (tsū, "pass through") with 夜 (ya, "night"), expressing the idea of staying through the night.
Usage tips
- Unlike wake in English, which can also mean a trail left by a moving boat, 通夜 (tsuya) refers specifically to a mourning gathering before a funeral.