祥月命日

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 祥月命日 (しょうつきめいにち) is a Buddhist compound noun for the annual anniversary falling on the same month and day as a person’s death.
• Basic usage: 祖父の祥月命日に墓参りする marks the date of family remembrance, while 祥月命日には花を供える marks the annual occasion for offering flowers.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Annual death anniversary
  • 祥月命日 recurs once each year on the same month and day as the death. It should not be confused with a broader 命日 usage for the same day in every month.