夜更(よふ)け

よふけ
noun
late at night, the dead of night
literarytime-general
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(よふ)けに目(め)が覚(さ)めた。
I woke up in the dead of night.
夜更(よふ)けまで本(ほん)を読(よ)んでいた。
I was reading a book until late at night.
夜更(よふ)けの街(まち)は静(しず)まり返(かえ)って、人(ひと)の気配(けはい)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(しんや) (late night). Often used in narrative descriptions to set a mood of quietness and solitude.

Similar words

Common collocations

  • 夜更(よふ)けに: in the dead of night
  • 夜更(よふ)けまで: until late at night
  • 夜更(よふ)けの街(まち): the city late at night

Related Words

Synonym: 深夜(しんや) (late at night (neutral))
Synonym: 真夜中(まよなか) (midnight)
general
Added 2026.2.20 18:56 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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