明あけ

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun, used as a suffix, adverb

dawn; daybreak

Refers to the break of day; often used in compounds like 明け方 (dawn) or as a standalone noun. Antonym: 暮れ (nightfall).

Antonyms: 暮れ

• 明あけの空そらが美うつくしい。

  The sky at dawn is beautiful.

• 明あけ方がたに目めが覚さめた。

  I woke up at dawn.

noun, used as a suffix, noun, used as a prefix

end; just after something ends

Used as a suffix or prefix to indicate the end of a period or event, or the time immediately following it. Common in words like 休み明け (after a break) or 明けの春 (spring just after winter).

• 休やすみ明あけはいつも忙いそがしい。

  It's always busy right after a holiday.

• 試し験けん明あけに友とも達だちと遊あそんだ。

  I hung out with friends after the exams ended.

noun, used as a suffix, noun, used as a prefix

beginning (of a new year, month, etc.)

Used as a suffix or prefix to mark the start of a new period, especially in temporal contexts. Examples: 年明け (start of the new year), 明けの春 (early spring).

• 年とし明あけに初はつ詣もうでに行いく。

  I go to the first shrine visit of the new year.

• 明あけの春はるはまだ寒さむい。

  Early spring is still cold.