晩 夏(ばんか)

ばんか

noun

late summer; end of summer

1. late summer; end of summer

The latter part of summer, roughly from mid-August into early September. A somewhat literary term that evokes the waning of summer's heat and the approaching autumn.

晩夏(ばんか)の日差(ひざ)しはまだ強(つよ)い。

The late summer sun is still strong.

晩夏(ばんか)になると、蝉(せみ)の声(こえ)も少(すこ)しずつ変(か)わってくる。

As late summer arrives, the sound of the cicadas gradually changes.

晩夏(ばんか)の夕暮(ゆうぐ)れには、どこか寂(さび)しさを感(かん)じる。

There's a certain loneliness in the late summer twilight.

A compound of 晩(ばん) (late/evening) and 夏(か) (summer). The 晩(ばん) prefix is used with other seasons as well to indicate the latter part of that season. Has a literary, slightly melancholic quality, often associated with the bittersweet feeling of summer ending.

Common collocations

晩夏(ばんか)の候(こう): the late summer season (used in formal letters)
晩夏(ばんか)の空(そら): late summer sky
晩夏(ばんか)の光(ひかり): late summer light

Seasonal terms

The 晩(ばん)〜 pattern applies to all seasons:

晩春(ばんしゅん): late spring
晩夏(ばんか): late summer
晩秋(ばんしゅう): late autumn
晩冬(ばんとう): late winter

Similar words

盛夏(せいか): midsummer, height of summer — the hottest part of summer, roughly July to mid-August
初夏(しょか): early summer — the beginning of summer, around May to June
残暑(ざんしょ): lingering summer heat — specifically the heat that continues after the traditional end of summer (立秋(りっしゅう))

Related Words

Compare: 盛夏(せいか) (midsummer, height of summer)

Compare: 初夏(しょか) (early summer)

Compare: 残暑(ざんしょ) (lingering summer heat)

Compare: 夏(なつ)の終(お)わり (end of summer)

Compare: 真夏(まなつ) (midsummer)

general

Added 2026.3.26 17:37 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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