Translation guide
The event of the sun appearing above the horizon in the morning, or the time of day when this happens. Japanese has several common words for this, with different nuances and contexts.
Referring to the actual moment or phenomenon of the sun coming up.
Tomorrow's sunrise is at 5:30.
I watched the sunrise from the mountaintop.
Refers specifically to the sunrise viewed from a mountaintop, often with a sense of awe or spiritual significance. Common in hiking and mountain climbing contexts.
I worshiped the sunrise from Mt. Fuji.
Literally 'morning sun', often used poetically or to refer to the sun itself at sunrise. Can also mean the morning sunlight.
The morning sun streamed into the room.
Formal or technical term for sunrise, used in astronomical contexts or official documents. Rare in daily speech.
Calculate the time from sunrise to sunset.
Referring to the early morning period when the sun rises.
Dawn or daybreak; the time when the sky gets light. More about the transition from night to day than the exact moment of sunrise.
Let's leave before dawn.
The early morning hours around dawn. Similar to 夜明け but slightly more focused on the time period.
Early morning; a broader term that can include the sunrise period but extends a bit later. Common in schedules and news.
Using 'sunrise' to mean a new beginning, hope, or revival.
日の出 refers specifically to the moment the sun appears above the horizon, while 夜明け refers to the period of dawn when the sky brightens. In English, 'sunrise' can cover both, but in Japanese they are distinct. Use 日の出 for exact times and the visual event; use 夜明け for the time of day or the gradual transition.
Japan is known as 'the Land of the Rising Sun' (日出ずる国, ひいずるくに). The sunrise holds deep cultural significance, appearing in art, poetry, and national symbols. When discussing this symbolism, 日の出 or 朝日 are appropriate.
The birds started singing at dawn.
明け方に地震がありました。
There was an earthquake around dawn.
早朝の便に乗ります。
I'll take the early morning flight.
The war ended and a morning of hope arrived.