Japanese word

明け方

Pronunciation

Romajiakegata

Meaning

  • noundawn

Example

明け方、鳥の声で目が覚めました。a ke gata tori no koe de me ga sa me ma shi ta

I woke up to birdsong at dawn.

Illustration for 明け方 (dawn)

More examples

明け方の冷たい空気を吸うと、頭がすっきりします。a ke gata no tsume ta i kū ki o sū to atama ga su kki ri shi ma su

Breathing in the cool air at dawn clears my head.

Core concept

Marks the period when night ends and the first light of day appears, especially around sunrise.

Common phrases

  • 明け方にa ke gata ni

    at dawn

  • 明け方までa ke gata ma de

    until dawn

  • 明け方近くa ke gata chika ku

    near dawn

  • 明け方の光a ke gata no hikari

    the light at dawn

  • 明け方前a ke gata mae

    before dawn

Similar words

夜明けyoake: The time when night ends and daylight begins.
暁akatsuki: The time just before sunrise or at the beginning of daylight, often in formal or literary language.

Definition in Japanese

夜が終わって朝の光が差し始めるころ。yoru ga o wa tte asa no hikari ga sa shi haji me ru ko ro

Word origin

明け方 (akegata) combines 明け (ake, "daybreak") and 方 (gata, "side or period"), with 方 marking the time around daybreak.

Usage tips

  • 明け方 (akegata) commonly takes に (ni) when it marks the time of an event.

Opposites

Word lists with this word