Translation guide
The time of day when the sun rises, or the beginning of something. Japanese has distinct words for the time of day, the action of the sun rising, and metaphorical beginnings.
Referring to the period when the sky gets light before sunrise or just as the sun appears.
The most common and neutral word for dawn, literally 'night ending'. Used in everyday conversation and writing.
Let's leave before dawn.
The sky at dawn is beautiful.
Refers to the time around dawn, often used in weather forecasts or slightly formal contexts.
The rain will stop around dawn.
A literary or poetic word for dawn, often used in classical contexts or set phrases.
Stars lingered in the dawn sky.
The moment the sun appears above the horizon.
Specifically the sunrise event. Used in daily conversation, weather reports, and travel contexts.
Sunrise tomorrow is at 5 o'clock.
I watched the sunrise from the mountaintop.
The start of a new period, age, or development.
Also used metaphorically for the dawn of a new era, just like in English.
It's the dawn of a new era.
Literally 'curtain opening', used for the beginning of an event, era, or story. More dramatic than 夜明け.
Formal and literary term for dawn, often used in historical or academic contexts to mean the beginning of something.
夜明け is the general period of dawn, 明け方 is a slightly more formal time reference often used in forecasts, and 日の出 is the specific moment of sunrise. Use 夜明け for most everyday situations.
The English word 'dawn' is sometimes transcribed as ドーン, but this is not used for the time of day. It may appear in names or as onomatopoeia for a loud sound.
新時代の幕開けを告げる出来事だった。
It was an event that heralded the dawn of a new era.
近代科学の黎明期。
The dawn of modern science.