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.
The most common and neutral word for sunrise as an event. Used in weather forecasts, travel, and daily conversation.
Referring to the early morning period when the sun rises.
Using 'sunrise' to mean a new beginning, hope, or revival.
Literally 'a new dawn', used metaphorically for a fresh start or new era.
この発見は科学の新たな夜明けを告げた。
This discovery heralded a new dawn for science.
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.
明日の日の出は5時30分です。
Tomorrow's sunrise is at 5:30.
山の頂上で日の出を見ました。
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.
富士山で御来光を拝みました。
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.
朝日が部屋に差し込んだ。
The morning sun streamed into the room.
Formal or technical term for sunrise, used in astronomical contexts or official documents. Rare in daily speech.
日出から日没までの時間を計算する。
Calculate the time from sunrise to sunset.
Dawn or daybreak; the time when the sky gets light. More about the transition from night to day than the exact moment of sunrise.
夜明け前に出発しましょう。
Let's leave before dawn.
夜明けとともに鳥が鳴き始めた。
The birds started singing at dawn.
The early morning hours around dawn. Similar to 夜明け but slightly more focused on the time period.
明け方に地震がありました。
There was an earthquake around dawn.
Early morning; a broader term that can include the sunrise period but extends a bit later. Common in schedules and news.
早朝の便に乗ります。
I'll take the early morning flight.
Morning of hope; a poetic way to express a hopeful new beginning.
戦争が終わり、希望の朝が来た。
The war ended and a morning of hope arrived.