夜更かし
yofukashi[jo̞ɸɯ̟̊ka̠ɕi]
The English phrase 'night owl' is expressed in Japanese as 夜更かし (yofukashi). Wiktionary also lists 宵っ張り (yoippari) and 宵っぱり (yoippari).
Meaning: one who is awake at night (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 夜更かし | yofukashi | [jo̞ɸɯ̟̊ka̠ɕi] (narrow) |
| 宵っ張り | yoippari | [jo̞ip̚pa̠ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 宵っぱり | yoippari | [jo̞ip̚pa̠ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 夜型 | yorugata | [jo̞ɾɯ̟ɡa̠ta̠] (narrow) |
In modern Japanese, the most natural and common way to describe someone's personality or biological clock as being a 'night owl' is to use 夜型. This term describes a person's tendency to be active during the night. The opposite of this term is 朝型, which means 'morning type' or a 'morning person'.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 夜型 literally translates to 'night type'.
Which one should you use?
While 夜更かし and 夜型 both relate to being awake at night, they have different meanings. 夜更かし refers specifically to the act of staying up late, whereas 夜型 refers to a person's biological rhythm or tendency to be active at night.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create the noun phrase 'night owl person' by adding 人間 to the term, resulting in 夜型人間.
How do you pronounce it?
yofukashi
Did you know?
- Japanese uses the same 型 (type) suffix for 'night owl' 夜型 as it does to describe blood types, such as type A or type B.
- The term 夜型 is used in Japan not just for people, but also for plants and animals that bloom or become active at night.
- While 夜型 is the common term for a night owl, the word 宵っ張り specifically describes someone who is active early in the evening, rather than throughout the entire night.
Examples in context
- 僕は夜型なんだ。I'm a night owl.This sentence is useful for stating that you are a night owl using 夜型.Tatoeba #81743 by tommy_san, translation #321972 by CK
- 私は夜型人間じゃないのよ。I'm not a night owl.This sentence is useful for denying that you are a night owl person using 夜型.Tatoeba #9815422 by bunbuku, translation #9733337 by DJ_Saidez
- 彼は夜型人間で、夜になると元気になります。He is a night owl and becomes lively at night.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking in the living room late at night.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、まだ起きてるの？Youta, mada okiteru no?Youta, are you still awake?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、僕はずっと夜更かしなんだ。Un, boku wa zutto yokefukashi nanda.Yeah, I've always been a night owl.
- 陽葵 Himari明日早いのに大丈夫？Ashita hayai noni daijoubu?Are you okay? You have an early start tomorrow.
- 陽太 Yotaなんとかなるよ。Nantoka naru yo.I'll manage somehow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “night owl” translations and entries 夜更かし, 宵っ張り, 宵っぱり, 夜型, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
