暁(あかつき)

あかつき
noun
dawn, daybreak; occasion (when something happens)
1. dawn, daybreak
The time when darkness begins to give way to light; early morning before sunrise.
暁(あかつき)の空(そら)。
The dawn sky.
暁(あかつき)に目(め)が覚(さ)めた。
I woke up at dawn.
東(ひがし)の空(そら)が暁(あかつき)に染(そ)まっていく。
The eastern sky is being colored by dawn.
2. occasion, time when (something happens)
Used in the pattern 〜の暁には to mean 'when (something happens)' or 'on the occasion of'.
成功(せいこう)の暁(あかつき)には。
When success is achieved...
合格(ごうかく)の暁(あかつき)にはお祝(いわ)いしよう。
Let's celebrate when you pass.
計画(けいかく)が実現(じつげん)した暁(あかつき)には、皆(みな)で乾杯(かんぱい)しましょう。
When the plan is realized, let's all toast together.

暁(あかつき) has both literal (dawn) and figurative (occasion) meanings.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 暁(あかつき)の空(そら): dawn sky
  • 〜の暁(あかつき)には: when ~, on the occasion of ~
  • 成功(せいこう)の暁(あかつき)には: when success is achieved

NUANCE:
Sense 2 is often used in formal or literary contexts to express anticipation of a future event.

REGISTER:
Both senses are somewhat formal or literary.

RELATED:

  • 曙(あけぼの): dawn (more poetic)
  • 夜明(よあ)け: daybreak (more common)
  • 明(あ)け方(がた): early morning
general
Added 2026.2.4 23:18
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