元日

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Noun referring specifically to January 1st, the first day of the year. It is a fixed date and does not require a counter when used alone. Example: 『元日は休みです』 (ganjitsu wa yasumi desu, 'New Year's Day is a holiday').

Theme

User and their friend Yumi are chatting about holiday plans for the upcoming New Year's Day, discussing traditions and activities.

元日

がんじつ

New Year's Day

Culture & SocietyReligion & Festivals

Memory Hook

Imagine the first day of the year, January 1st, as the 'origin day' — 『元』 (gen, 'origin') + 『日』 (nichi, 'day') = 『元日』 (ganjitsu, 'New Year's Day'). Think: 'Gan' sounds like 'gun' — fire a gun to celebrate the new year!

Cultural Note

In Japan, 『元日』 (ganjitsu, 'New Year's Day') is a national holiday and part of the 『正月』 (shōgatsu, 'New Year') celebrations. People often visit shrines for 『初詣』 (hatsumōde, 'first shrine visit'), eat special foods like 『おせち料理』 (osechi ryōri, 'New Year's dishes'), and exchange greetings like 『あけましておめでとうございます』 (akemashite omedetō gozaimasu, 'Happy New Year').

Forms

Base: 元日Noun referring specifically to January 1st, the first day of the year. It is a fixed date and does not require a counter when used alone. Example: 『元日は休みです』 (ganjitsu wa yasumi desu, 'New Year's Day is a holiday').