夕方

• Reading: ゆうがた
• Romaji: yuugata
• Kanji breakdown: 夕 (yuu) — evening; 方 (kata/gata) — direction, time
• Pronunciation: /jɯː.ɡa.ta/

Meaning

Early evening; dusk. Usually refers to the period from around 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Combines 夕 (evening) and 方 (direction/time). Describes the transitional period between afternoon and night, when the sun begins to set. Often used for scheduling or describing when something happens. More specific than 夜 (night) — 夕方 implies there is still some daylight remaining.

Examples

1. 夕方、買い物に行きます。 I'm going shopping in the early evening.
2. 夕方から雨が降るそうです。 I hear it's going to rain starting in the evening.
3. 夕方は空がきれいです。 The sky is beautiful in the early evening.

Usage Guide

Context: weather forecasts, scheduling, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 夕 (yuu, evening — depicting the crescent moon) and 方 (kata/gata, direction or time), together meaning 'the direction of evening.'

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal