Japanese word

暁

Pronunciation

Romajiakatsuki

Meaning

  • noundawn

Example

暁には鳥の声が聞こえます。akatsuki ni wa tori no koe ga ki ko e ma su

Birdsong can be heard at dawn.

Illustration for 暁 (dawn)

More examples

旅人たちは暁の訪れを待っています。tabi bito ta chi wa akatsuki no otozu re o ma tte i ma su

The travelers are waiting for the arrival of dawn.

Core concept

Refers to the early light that signals the end of night and the arrival of morning.

Common phrases

  • 暁を迎えるakatsuki o muka e ru

    welcome the dawn

  • 暁の光akatsuki no hikari

    dawn light

  • 暁の空akatsuki no sora

    dawn sky

Similar words

夜明けyoake: The time when night ends and daylight begins.
明け方akegata: The early morning period around the time daylight begins.
曙akebono: The first light of morning, often used in literary descriptions.

Definition in Japanese

朝を迎える直前に、空が明るくなるころ。asa o muka e ru choku zen ni sora ga aka ru ku na ru ko ro

Word origin

The Japanese noun 暁 (akatsuki) comes from the old expression あかとき (akatoki), meaning the time when darkness gives way to light, and later took its present form.

Usage tips

  • The word 暁 (akatsuki) often has a literary tone in Japanese, so it appears more naturally in poetic or formal descriptions of early morning.

Opposites

Word lists with this word