Translation guide
The concept of staying awake during the night to guard, monitor, or keep vigil. This guide covers common Japanese expressions for night watch duties, night shifts, and the act of keeping watch at night.
A person or group assigned to stay awake and guard a place at night.
General term for night watch, often used for security guards or patrols.
夜警が建物の周りを見回っている。
The night watch is patrolling around the building.
Night watch or night shift, often in a traditional or informal context, like a neighborhood watch or a castle guard.
町内会で夜番を決めた。
We decided on a night watch for the neighborhood association.
Night duty, especially for professionals like doctors, nurses, or hotel staff who stay overnight at their workplace.
今夜は宿直なので病院に泊まります。
I'm on night duty tonight, so I'll stay at the hospital.
Literally 'sleepless watch', a historical or literary term for staying awake all night to keep guard.
武士たちは不寝番を務めた。
The samurai kept the night watch.
A work shift that takes place during the night hours.
Standard term for night shift work, used in factories, hospitals, etc.
今週は夜勤が続いている。
I've been on the night shift all week.
Formal term for night work, often used in official contexts.
The action of staying awake to monitor or protect, not necessarily as a formal duty.
To keep watch all night. '夜通し' means 'all night' and '見張る' means 'to watch/guard'.
彼らは夜通し見張っていた。
They kept watch all night.
Night watchman or the act of night watching. '見張り' is a noun meaning watch or lookout.
夜の見張りを交代で行う。
We take turns doing the night watch.
Staying awake all night to watch over someone or something, often with a sense of dedication or vigil.
A period of time during the night when a watch is kept, especially on ships.
Night watch on a ship; a nautical term for the watch kept during the night hours.
船では夜直が重要だ。
On a ship, the night watch is important.
夜警 is the most general term for a night watchman or patrol. 夜番 is more informal and often used for community or traditional settings. 宿直 specifically implies staying overnight at a workplace as part of duty, like a doctor or hotel staff.
The English word 'watch' here means 'guard' or 'vigil', not a timepiece. Using 時計 (とけい) would be incorrect.
夜間勤務手当が支給されます。
A night work allowance is provided.
病人のために寝ずの番をした。
I kept a vigil all night for the sick person.