暮(く)れ

くれ
noun
end of year; dusk, nightfall
1. end of year, year-end
The final period of the year, especially December.
年(とし)の暮(く)れは忙(いそが)しい。
The end of the year is busy.
暮(く)れも押(お)し迫(せま)る。
The year-end is fast approaching.
暮(く)れから正月(しょうがつ)にかけて、親戚(しんせき)への挨拶(あいさつ)や買(か)い物(もの)で毎日(まいにち)忙(いそが)しく過(す)ごした。
From year-end through New Year, I spent each day busy with visiting relatives and shopping.
2. dusk, nightfall, sunset
The time when day ends and night begins.
日(ひ)暮(ぐ)れまでに帰(かえ)る。
To return home by nightfall.
夕(ゆう)暮(ぐ)れの空(そら)
The evening sky at dusk.
秋(あき)の暮(く)れは日(ひ)が短(みじか)い。
The days are short in late autumn.

暮(く)れ refers to endings - of the year or the day.

YEAR-END USAGE:

  • 年(とし)の暮(く)れ (year end)
  • 暮(く)れの挨拶(あいさつ) (year-end greetings)
  • 暮(く)れも押(お)し迫(せま)る (year-end approaches)

DAY-END USAGE:

  • 日(ひ)暮(ぐ)れ (dusk, sunset)
  • 夕(ゆう)暮(ぐ)れ (evening, dusk)

SEASONAL EXPRESSIONS:

  • 暮(く)れから正月(しょうがつ) (from year-end through New Year)
  • お歳暮(せいぼ) (year-end gift)

CONTRAST:

  • 暮(く)れ (end of year/day)
  • 明(あ)け (beginning, dawn)

Related Words

Antonym: 明(あ)け (beginning)
general
Added 2026.1.11 16:03 · Revised 2026.1.20 23:25
02500/02671_kure