Translation and Meaning of: 暮れ - kure

If you are studying Japanese or simply interested in Japanese culture, you may have come across the word 暮れ (くれ). It carries a deep meaning and is closely tied to everyday life and traditions in Japan. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, its origin, how it is used in daily life, and some curiosities that will help you understand it better. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide clear and useful explanations for those who want to truly learn Japanese.

The meaning and origin of 暮れ

The word 暮れ (くれ) means "dusk" or "twilight," but it can also refer to the end of something, such as the end of a year or a season. It comes from the verb 暮れる (kureru), which means "to darken" or "to come to an end." This duality of meanings demonstrates how Japanese often associates temporal concepts with broader ideas about cycles and transitions.

The kanji 暮 is composed of the radical for sun (日) combined with other elements that suggest the idea of "passing time." This reinforces the notion that 暮れ is not just about sunset, but also about the passage of time and the awareness that everything has a beginning and an end. This perspective aligns with traditional Japanese values, which cherish impermanence and the beauty of fleeting moments.

How 暮れ is used in everyday Japanese

In Japan, 暮れ is a common word in everyday conversations, especially when talking about the end of the afternoon or the beginning of the night. Phrases like "もう暮れだ" (Mou kure da – "It’s already getting dark") are frequent and demonstrate how the Japanese have a close relationship with the passage of time and the changes in daylight.

Furthermore, 暮れ appears in expressions like 年の暮れ (toshi no kure), which refers to the end of the year, an important period in Japan, marked by festivities such as Omisoka (New Year's Eve). This usage reinforces the idea that the word is connected not only to the daily cycle but also to seasonal and cultural events.

Curiosities and tips for memorizing 暮れ

An easy way to remember the meaning of 暮れ is to associate it with the verb 暮れる (kureru), which means "to get dark." If you think that the day is "getting dark," it becomes simpler to understand why this word can also mean "to dusk" or "end." Another tip is to observe the kanji 暮, which contains the sun radical (日), reinforcing the connection with the daily cycle.

An interesting curiosity is that, in some regions of Japan, 暮れ can be used in a more poetic way to describe not only the evening but also the feeling of melancholy that sometimes accompanies the end of the day. This emotional nuance shows how the Japanese language can convey complex feelings with just a few words.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 年末 (Nenmatsu) - End of the year
• 年の瀬 (Toshino-se) - Last days of the year
• 夕暮れ (Yūgure) - Twilight, the time at dusk
• 黄昏 (Tasogare) - Twilight, the moment between day and night, with a melancholic emphasis.
• 夕方 (Yūgata) - Afternoon until the beginning of the night

暮れ

Romaji: kure
Kana: くれ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: end of year; sunset; nightfall; end

Meaning in English: year end;sunset;nightfall;end

Definition: O fim do ano.

Example Sentences - (暮れ) kure

See below some example sentences:

暮れの風景が美しいです。

Kure no fuukei ga utsukushii desu

The twilight landscape is beautiful.

The dawn landscape is beautiful.

• 暮れの風景 - sunset landscape
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

夕暮れが静かで美しいです。

Yuugure ga shizuka de utsukushii desu

The sunset is quiet and beautiful.

The twilight is quiet and beautiful.

• 夕暮れ (yūgure) - means "twilight" or "sunset"
• が (ga) - grammatical particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 静か (shizuka) - means "silent" or "calm"
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the condition or means in which something occurs
• 美しい (utsukushii) - means "handsome" or "beautiful"
• です (desu) - an educated and polite way to affirm something in Japanese

夕暮れが深まる。

Yuugure ga fukamaru

The night is getting darker.

The Twilight deepens.

• 夕暮れ - dusk (anoitecer)
• が - ga (subject particle)
• 深まる - fukamaru (become deeper, darker)

夕暮れ時の西日が美しいです。

Yuugureji no nishibi ga utsukushii desu

The west sun of the west is beautiful during twilight.

West day at dusk is beautiful.

• 夕暮れ時 - moment of dusk
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 西日 - sunlight that strikes from the west
• が - particle that indicates subject
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present