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 ListHow 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 | 夕 |
---|---|
Strokes | 8 |
JLPT Level | N4 |
Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ヤ (Ya)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- よる (Yoru)
- よ (Yo)
Common Words Using 夜
Onyomi Readings
Word | Reading | Meaning |
---|---|---|
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
Word | Reading | Meaning |
---|---|---|
夜 | 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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