Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'festival' depends on the type of event. The most common and general term is 祭り (matsuri), which refers to traditional local festivals, often with portable shrines, food stalls, and dancing. For large-scale modern events like music or film festivals, the loanword フェスティバル (fesutibaru) or its abbreviation フェス (fesu) is used. There are also specific terms for cultural festivals, school festivals, and seasonal celebrations.
A lively community event with religious or seasonal origins, featuring portable shrines, food stalls, games, and performances.
The standard word for a traditional Japanese festival. It implies a community celebration, often with Shinto or Buddhist roots, and includes elements like mikoshi (portable shrines), yatai (food stalls), and bon odori (dancing).
夏祭りに行ってきました。
I went to the summer festival.
この町の祭りは毎年8月に行われます。
This town's festival is held every August.
Refers specifically to a temple or shrine fair day, often with stalls and games. It's a type of festival but more focused on the fairground aspect.
A big organized event centered around a theme like music, film, or art, often lasting several days.
The direct loanword for 'festival' in the sense of a large modern event. It's commonly used for music festivals, film festivals, etc.
今年の音楽フェスティバルは最高だった。
This year's music festival was amazing.
A common abbreviation of フェスティバル, used in casual conversation and event names.
夏フェスのチケットを買った。
I bought tickets for a summer festival.
A festival organized by a school or cultural institution, often featuring student performances, exhibitions, and food booths.
The standard term for a school cultural festival, where classes or clubs put on displays, performances, and food stalls. It's a major event in Japanese school life.
文化祭でクラスの出し物をやります。
We'll do our class presentation at the school festival.
Another term for a school festival, often used for larger schools or universities. Similar to 文化祭 but can imply a more campus-wide event.
A festival tied to a specific season or holiday, often with traditional customs.
Used as a suffix in the names of specific festivals, like 桜祭 (sakura matsuri, cherry blossom festival) or 雪祭 (yuki matsuri, snow festival). It's more formal and often part of a proper name.
札幌雪祭りは有名です。
The Sapporo Snow Festival is famous.
A formal term for a festival or celebration, often used in official contexts or for national holidays.
国民の祝祭日
national holidays
祭り (matsuri) is for traditional, often religious or community-based festivals. フェスティバル (fesutibaru) is for modern, commercial events like music festivals. Using 祭り for a rock festival would sound odd.
ロックフェスティバルに行く。
I'm going to a rock festival.
地元の祭りで神輿を担ぐ。
I carry the portable shrine at the local festival.
English 'festival' covers a wide range of events. In Japanese, using 祭り for a film festival or a school festival can be confusing. Use the specific terms: 映画祭 (eigasai) for film festival, 文化祭 (bunkasai) for school festival, etc.
祭りは人でいっぱいだった。
The festival was crowded with people.
今週末はジャズフェスに行きます。
I'm going to a jazz festival this weekend.
縁日で金魚すくいをした。
I played goldfish scooping at the temple fair.
大学の学園祭に友達を呼んだ。
I invited my friends to the university festival.