喪中

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 喪中(もちゅう) denotes the period or state of mourning after someone close has died.
• Basic usage: The examples concern sending greetings in place of New Year's cards or moderating celebratory language out of consideration for a bereaved family.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A period versus the event 葬式
  • 葬式(そうしき) is the funeral ceremony for the deceased. 喪中 is a period or state of mourning, giving it a different time span from a single ceremony.