夜行(やこう)

やこう
noun
traveling by night, night train
1. night train, overnight travel
Travel that takes place during nighttime hours, or a train/bus that operates overnight.
夜行(やこう)バスに乗(の)る。
To take an overnight bus.
夜行(やこう)バスで大阪(おおさか)に行(い)った。
I went to Osaka by overnight bus.
夜行(やこう)列車(れっしゃ)は安(やす)いが疲(つか)れる。
Night trains are cheap but tiring.
学生(がくせい)のころはよく夜行(やこう)バスで旅行(りょこう)していた。
When I was a student, I often traveled by overnight bus.
夜行(やこう)便(びん)は朝(あさ)早(はや)く着(つ)くので、時間(じかん)を有効(ゆうこう)に使(つか)える。
Overnight services arrive early in the morning, so you can use your time effectively.
2. nocturnal activity
Being active at night, especially referring to animals that are nocturnal.
猫(ねこ)は夜行(やこう)性(せい)だ。
Cats are nocturnal.
夜行(やこう)性(せい) = nocturnal
フクロウは夜行(やこう)性(せい)の鳥(とり)です。
Owls are nocturnal birds.
夜行(やこう)性(せい)の動物(どうぶつ)は暗(くら)い中(なか)でも目(め)が見(み)える。
Nocturnal animals can see even in the dark.
ハムスターは夜行(やこう)性(せい)なので、昼間(ひるま)はずっと寝(ね)ている。
Hamsters are nocturnal, so they sleep all day.
夜行(やこう)性(せい)の虫(むし)は光(ひかり)に集(あつ)まる習性(しゅうせい)があるので、夜(よる)に窓(まど)を開(あ)けると入(はい)ってくる。
Nocturnal insects have a habit of gathering around light, so they come in when you open the window at night.

夜行(やこう) has two main uses: overnight travel (sense 1) and nocturnal behavior (sense 2). It almost always appears as part of a compound rather than standing alone.

COMMON COMPOUNDS (travel):

COMMON COMPOUNDS (biology):

CONTRAST:

CULTURE:
夜行(やこう)バス is a popular budget travel option in Japan, especially among students. Routes connect major cities, departing late at night and arriving early in the morning.

core
Added 2026.1.13 21:42 · Revised 2026.5.30 0:08
04000/04078_yakou