1.
late at night, the dead of night, late-night hours
The period of night well past midnight, when most people are asleep. Evokes a quiet, still atmosphere.
夜更けに目が覚めた。
I woke up in the dead of night.
夜更けまで本を読んでいた。
I was reading a book until late at night.
夜更けの街は静まり返って、人の気配がまったくなかった。
The city in the dead of night was completely still, with no sign of people at all.
USAGE:
A somewhat literary or evocative word for the late-night hours. More atmospheric than simply saying 深夜 (late night). Often used in narrative descriptions to set a mood of quietness and solitude.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 深夜: late at night (neutral, factual)
- 夜更け: the dead of night (literary, atmospheric)
- 真夜中: midnight, the middle of the night
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 夜更けに: in the dead of night
- 夜更けまで: until late at night
- 夜更けの街: the city late at night