1.
enjoying the evening cool; cooling off in the evening
The practice of going outside or sitting on a veranda in the evening to enjoy the cool air after a hot summer day. A quintessentially Japanese summer custom.
縁側で夕涼みをする。
To enjoy the evening cool on the veranda.
夕涼みに川沿いを散歩した。
I took a walk along the river to enjoy the evening cool.
夏の夕方、近所の人たちが集まって夕涼みをしている光景は懐かしい。
The sight of neighbors gathering to enjoy the evening cool on summer evenings is nostalgic.
USAGE: 夕涼み is a summer seasonal word (季語) in haiku and is strongly associated with traditional Japanese summer life. The custom involves sitting outside, fanning oneself, eating watermelon, and watching fireworks or fireflies.
With the spread of air conditioning, 夕涼み as a daily practice has become less common but remains culturally evocative.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 夕涼みをする: to enjoy the evening cool
- 夕涼みに出る: to go out for the evening cool
- 縁側で夕涼み: cooling off on the veranda