日暮れ
higure[çiɡɯ̟ɾe̞]
The Japanese word for nightfall is 日暮れ (higure).
日暮れ is a noun used to describe the close of the day or the coming of night.
Meaning: the close of the day, the coming of night (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 日, meaning sun or day and 暮れ, meaning ending or setting.
Which one should you use?
While 日暮れ refers to the event of the sun setting or night falling, the term 日没 is a more technical or astronomical term for sunset. Additionally, you can add 時 to the end of the word to create 日暮れ時, which specifically refers to the time period of twilight or dusk.
How do you pronounce it?
higure
Did you know?
- In Japanese folklore, the specific moment of nightfall is called 逢魔が時 (omagatoki), or 'the hour of meeting demons'. It is a time when the boundary between the human and spirit worlds is thought to vanish.
- While 日暮れ describes the arrival of night, the verb form 暮れる (kureru) can also be used to describe a person's life or a period of time coming to an end. This creates a poetic link between the setting sun and the end of an era.
- The concept of 'closing' or 'ending' found in 日暮れ is also applied to the calendar year. This is why the word 暮れ is used to describe the very end of December.
Examples in context
- この空模様から察すると、日暮れ前にひょっとしたら一雨降るかも知れません。Judging from the look of the sky, we might have a shower before nightfall.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 日暮れ when discussing the weather before nightfall.Tatoeba #222271 by bunbuku, translation #59598 by CK
- 私たちは夕暮れまで公園で遊びました。We played at the park until nightfall.
- 日暮れが早くなりましたね。higure ga hayaku narimashita ne.Nightfall has come earlier lately.
- 日暮れには、街灯が灯ります。higure ni wa, gaitou ga tomorimasu.At nightfall, the streetlights turn on.
Example conversation
Two people are talking about a walk in the park.
- 陽葵 Himari日暮れ前に、公園を散歩しませんか？higure mae ni, kouen o sanpo shimasen ka?Would you like to take a walk in the park before nightfall?
- 健太 Kentaいいですね。陽葵さんも一緒に行きましょう。ii desu ne. Himari-san mo issho ni ikimashou.That sounds good. Let's go together, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても楽しみです。hai, totemo tanoshimi desu.Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
- 健太 Kenta準備ができたら、出発しましょう。junbi ga dekitara, shuppatsu shimashou.Let's head out once we are ready.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 日暮れ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
