忌引き

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 忌引き, read きびき, and it is a noun for leave taken after the death of a family member or close relative.
• Basic usage: 忌引き is bereavement leave formally allowing an absence from work or school for mourning and funeral responsibilities.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A family-loss reason distinct from ordinary leave
  • Both examples use the form 忌引き. The absence is for a funeral and mourning rather than personal rest, which is why it is applied for and why coworkers cover the work.
• A three-day request and coworkers sharing duties
  • 家族の葬儀のため三日間の忌引きを申請した。 — I requested three days of bereavement leave for a family funeral.
  • 忌引きで休んだ同僚の仕事を皆で分担した。 — Everyone shared the work of a colleague who was absent on bereavement leave.