expression, i-adjective
dark even in the daytime
Describes a place that is so shaded or enclosed that it remains dark during the day. Often used for dense forests, deep valleys, or heavily curtained rooms.
その森は昼なお暗く、足元もよく見えなかった。
The forest was dark even in the daytime, and I couldn't see my feet well.
深い谷底は昼なお暗い場所
The bottom of the deep valley was a place that was dark even during the day.
真っ暗 means pitch-dark, usually implying complete absence of light, while 昼なお暗い specifically emphasizes darkness persisting despite it being daytime.
A set phrase combining 昼 (daytime), the adverb なお (still, even), and 暗い (dark). The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a classical pattern of adverbial modification.