🌏 Region(s): Ryukyu (Okinawa)
うんけー【御迎】 : unkee | define meaning
unkee
Pronunciation: [ʔuŋ̍keː]
Definition
Noun
- (Ceremony) Welcoming of the spirits of one's ancestors on the first day of Kyū Bon or Obon
- (By extension) The first day of Kyū Bon or Obon
Etymology
Cognate with standard Japanese おむかえ【お迎え・御迎え】 omukae "welcoming (of the spirits)".
Notes
During Unkee, families will spend the morning cleaning and decorating their ancestral altars with incense, candles, lanterns, flowers, fruits and other items. In the evening, family members will gather to pray and welcome the spirits of their ancestors.
Spelling
| Orthography | Form |
|---|---|
| Kanji | 御迎 |
| Kana | うんけー |
| Romanization | unkee |
| Pronunciation (IPA) | [ʔuŋ̍keː] |
意味：おむかえ【お迎え・御迎え】
御迎
Cite this entry: Read, Zachary. (2025, December 9). うんけー【御迎】 : unkee | define meaning. JLect: Japonic Languages and Dialects Database. Retrieved 2026, February 5, from https://www.jlect.com/entry/7575/unkee/.