1.
enjoying the evening cool; taking the evening air
The pleasant practice of going outside or sitting on a veranda in the evening to enjoy the cool air after a hot summer day. A seasonal word (季語) associated with summer in Japanese poetry.
縁側で夜涼みをする。
To enjoy the evening cool on the veranda.
夏の夜涼みに花火を楽しんだ。
We enjoyed fireworks while taking the evening air in summer.
風鈴の音を聞きながら夜涼みをするのが毎年の楽しみだ。
Enjoying the evening cool while listening to wind chimes is something I look forward to every year.
A seasonal word (季語) for summer in haiku and traditional poetry. Refers to the custom of stepping outside or sitting on a veranda (縁側) during summer evenings to escape the heat of the day and enjoy the cooler night air.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 夜涼みをする: to enjoy the evening cool
- 夜涼みに出る: to go out for the evening cool
- 夜涼みがてら: while enjoying the evening cool
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Traditionally associated with summer evenings in Japan, when people would sit outside with 団扇 (round fans) or 扇子 (folding fans), drink 麦茶 (barley tea), and enjoy the sounds of 風鈴 (wind chimes) or 虫の声 (insect songs). The practice has become less common with the spread of air conditioning.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 納涼: enjoying the cool — broader term that includes daytime cooling activities and organized events like 納涼大会 (summer cooling festivals)