夕暮れ
yūgure[jɯ̟ːɡɯ̟ɾe̞]
Dusk in Japanese is translated as 夕暮れ (yūgure). Wiktionary also lists 黄昏 (tasogare).
Meaning: period of time at the end of day when sun is below the horizon but before full onset of night (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 夕暮れ | yūgure | [jɯ̟ːɡɯ̟ɾe̞] (narrow) |
| 黄昏 | tasogare | [ta̠so̞ɡa̠ɾe̞] (narrow) [ko̞ːkõ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
The term refers to the period of time at the end of the day when the sun is below the horizon but before the full onset of night.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 夕暮れ is composed of 夕 (evening) and 暮れ (end/setting), literally meaning "evening dusk".
Which one should you use?
夕暮れ is the standard, everyday term for dusk or evening used in common conversation and descriptions. In contrast, 黄昏 is a more poetic or literary term for twilight, often carrying a nostalgic or melancholic nuance.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 時 to 夕暮れ creates 夕暮れ時, which specifically refers to the 'time of dusk'. Similarly, adding 時 to 黄昏 creates 黄昏時, a phrase commonly used in literature to describe the twilight hour.
How do you pronounce it?
yūgure
Did you know?
- Because visibility is low at 黄昏時, this specific time is traditionally viewed as a boundary between the human world and the spirit world.
- The poetic term for dusk, 黄昏, actually comes from the ancient question 誰そ彼 (tasokare), which meant 'Who is that?'
- The word 黄昏 is frequently used in Japanese literature to symbolize the 'autumn' or twilight of a person's life.
Examples in context
- もう、夕暮れのようである。It already appears to be dusk.This sentence shows how to describe the current appearance of the time of day using 夕暮れ.Tatoeba #10901701 by small_snow, translation #12717062 by end
- ドイツの黄昏時は日本の深夜です。When it's dusk in Germany, it's late at night in Japan.This sentence uses 黄昏 to compare the timing of dusk in different countries.Tatoeba #10042783 by small_snow, translation #10044751 by DJ_Saidez
- 食べ物をえるために夕暮れ時に外へ出る。It goes to feed at dusk.This sentence illustrates the use of the phrase at the time of dusk using 夕暮れ.Tatoeba #3322492 by Chus, translation #3322490 by Chus
- 「夕暮れの美しさは、詩人たちによって称えられている。」The beauty of dusk has been praised by poets.
- 「夕闇に包まれた寺院は、静寂の一部を成している。」The temple enveloped in dusk becomes a part of the silence.
- 「散歩するのに最適なのは、もやもやとした夕暮れ時だ。」The perfect time for a walk is the hazy dusk.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are looking at the sky from their porch.
- 陽葵 Himari見て、夕暮れがとてもきれいだよ。Mite, yūgure ga totemo kirei da yo.Look, the dusk is very beautiful.
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。空がオレンジ色だ。Hontō da ne. Sora ga orenji-iro da.You're right. The sky is orange.
- 陽葵 Himari夕暮れになると、少し寂しくなるね。Yūgure ni naru to, sukoshi sabishiku naru ne.It feels a bit lonely when dusk comes, doesn't it?
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね。そろそろ家に入ろう。Sō da ne. Sorosoro ie ni hairō.True. Let's go inside soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dusk” translations and entries 夕暮れ, 黄昏, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 夕暮れ, 黄昏, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
