明(あ)け方(がた)

あけがた
noun
dawn; daybreak
1. dawn; daybreak
the time of day when light first appears in the sky before sunrise
明(あ)け方(がた)に目(め)が覚(さ)めた。
I woke up at dawn.
明(あ)け方(がた)の空(そら)がとても美(うつく)しかった。
The sky at dawn was very beautiful.
彼(かれ)は明(あ)け方(がた)まで仕事(しごと)をしていた。
He was working until dawn.

TIME OF DAY:
明(あ)け方(がた) refers specifically to the period just before sunrise when the sky begins to lighten, typically between 4:00-6:00 AM depending on the season.

RELATED TIME WORDS:

  • 夜明(よあ)け (dawn, daybreak - similar meaning)
  • 日(ひ)の出(で) (sunrise - the moment the sun appears)
  • 早朝(そうちょう) (early morning)
  • 朝方(あさがた) (toward morning)

FORMATION:
明(あ)ける (to dawn) + 方(がた) (time period suffix) → the time when it dawns

general
Added 2026.1.26 22:58
08000/08391_akegata