JLPT N4 Kanji: 夜 (Yoru/Yo/Ya) – Mastering the Night

JLPT N4 Kanji: 夜 (Yoru/Yo/Ya) – Mastering the Night

Readings: ヤ (Onyomi), よ, よる (Kunyomi)

Meaning: Night

This kanji is a pictograph depicting a person (人 or simplified form) with a crescent moon (月) or evening (夕) to denote night. Some interpretations suggest it combines 夕 (evening) with 亦 (meaning ‘also’ or serving as a phonetic component), with 亦 possibly indicating something covering or dark.

View JLPT N4 Kanji List

How to Write – Stroke Order

The kanji 夜 (yoru/yo/ya) is written with 8 strokes. Begin with the left-side radical 夕 (evening), then the top horizontal stroke. Follow with the two strokes resembling 亦, and finally complete it with the bottom horizontal and vertical strokes.

Kanji Details

Radical
Strokes8
JLPT LevelN4
Grade2

Readings with English Transcription

Onyomi (Chinese readings)

  • ヤ (Ya)

Kunyomi (Japanese readings)

  • よる (Yoru)
  • よ (Yo)

Common Words Using 夜

Onyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
深夜しんやLate night
夜間やかんNighttime, night
夜行やこうNight train/bus; night travel
徹夜てつやStaying up all night
今夜こんやTonight
夜中やちゅうMidnight, middle of the night
夜食やしょくLate night snack
夜景やけいNight view
夜勤やきんNight shift
夜会やかいEvening party

Kunyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
よるNight
今夜こんやTonight
夜明けよあけDawn, daybreak
夜空よぞらNight sky
夜道よみちNight road
夜風よかぜNight breeze
夜更かしよふかしStaying up late
夜遊びよあそびNightlife, going out at night
夜泣きよなきNight crying (esp. of babies)
夜鍋よなべWorking late into the night

Example Sentences

Japanese: 日本の夏は夜でも暑いです。

Kana: にほんのなつはよるでもあついです。

Romaji: Nihon no natsu wa yoru demo atsui desu.

English: Japanese summers are hot even at night.

Japanese: 毎晩、寝る前に本を読みます。

Kana: まいばん、ねるまえにほんをよみます。

Romaji: Maiban, neru mae ni hon o yomimasu.

English: I read a book every night before going to bed.

Japanese: 今夜、一緒に夕食を食べませんか?

Kana: こんや、いっしょにゆうしょくをたべませんか?

Romaji: Kon’ya, issho ni yūshoku o tabemasen ka?

English: Would you like to have dinner together tonight?

Japanese: 夜空にはたくさんの星が見えます。

Kana: よぞらにはたくさんのほしがみえます。

Romaji: Yozora ni wa takusan no hoshi ga miemasu.

English: Many stars can be seen in the night sky.

Japanese: 子供たちは夜遅くまでゲームをしました。

Kana: こどもたちはよるおそくまでゲームをしました。

Romaji: Kodomotachi wa yoru osoku made gēmu o shimashita.

English: The children played games until late at night.

Japanese: 夜中に目が覚めてしまいました。

Kana: よなかにめがさめてしまいました。

Romaji: Yonaka ni me ga samete shimaimashita.

English: I woke up in the middle of the night.

Japanese: 彼は徹夜でレポートを仕上げました。

Kana: かれはてつやでレポートをしあげました。

Romaji: Kare wa tetsuya de repōto o shiagemashita.

English: He finished the report by staying up all night.

Japanese: このレストランは夜間営業しています。

Kana: このレストランはやかんえいぎょうしています。

Romaji: Kono resutoran wa yakan eigyō shiteimasu.

English: This restaurant is open at night.

Japanese: 夜明け前には、まだ暗いです。

Kana: よあけまえには、まだくらいです。

Romaji: Yoake mae ni wa, mada kurai desu.

English: It’s still dark before dawn.

Japanese: 夜景がとてもきれいな場所です。

Kana: やけいがとてもきれいなばしょです。

Romaji: Yakei ga totemo kirei na basho desu.

English: It’s a place with a very beautiful night view.

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