お祭り

NOUN (1)

[/o̞ ma̠ɯ̟̻ɯ̟̻ɾʲi/^ja-JP]

festival literal / celebration literal / event general / matsuri loanwordcultural / cultural festival literal / traditional festival literal / local fair approximation / community festival approximation / celebratory event approximation / event of celebration untranslatable (No direct equivalent concept in ENGLISH; captures the essence of social gathering and tradition inherent in festivals.)

Synonyms 祭り neutral , 行事 formal

A traditional Japanese festival or celebration, often associated with a shrine or temple, community gatherings, and various festive activities. While translatable as 'festival' or 'celebration,' the term お祭り (often just 祭り without the honorific 'お') carries a deeper cultural significance than a simple English equivalent. It embodies a strong sense of local community, traditional customs, and often religious or seasonal observances. It signifies an event that brings people together for communal celebration, often involving parades, special foods, and performances, and is deeply embedded in Japanese cultural identity, making a single direct translation difficult to fully convey its essence.

夏には多くの地域でお祭りが開催されます。 — Many regions hold festivals in the summer.
子供たちはお祭りで金魚すくいを楽しんだ。 — The children enjoyed goldfish scooping at the festival.
このお祭りは三百年の歴史があります。 — This festival has a history of 300 years.