What does 夕 mean in Japanese?
夕 means “evening” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 夕方 (evening), 夕日 (evening sun), and 夕食 (evening meal).
For learners, the key is to study 夕 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: セキ (seki)
Kun’yomi: ゆう (yuu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 夕 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | evening, dusk |
| Stroke Count | 3 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
夕 is not limited to one English translation. In 夕方 (ゆうがた), it means evening; in 夕日 (ゆうひ), it points to evening sun; and in 夕食 (ゆうしょく), it is used for evening meal. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 夕方（ゆうがた / yūgata） — evening
- 夕日（ゆうひ / yūhi） — evening sun
- 夕食（ゆうしょく / yūshoku） — evening meal
- 夕立（ゆうだち / yūdachi） — evening shower
- 七夕（たなばた / tanabata） — Tanabata festival
- 夕刊（ゆうかん / yūkan） — evening newspaper
Example Sentences
-
夕方に犬の散歩をします。
ゆうがたにいぬのさんぽをします。 / Yūgata ni inu no sanpo o shimasu.
I walk the dog in the evening.
-
夕日がとてもきれいでした。
ゆうひがとてもきれいでした。 / Yūhi ga totemo kirei deshita.
The evening sun was very beautiful.
-
夕食の時間になりました。
ゆうしょくのじかんになりました。 / Yūshoku no jikan ni narimashita.
It is time for dinner.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 夕方 (ゆうがた / yūgata) because it keeps the core meaning of 夕 clear. Then add 夕日 and 夕食 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 夕 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
夕 means “evening” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 夕方, 夕日, and 夕食.