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宵の口 (yoinokuchi) Japanese meaning: nightfall | Kotomora

宵よいの口くち

よ

い

の

く

ち

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

expression, noun

nightfall; early evening

Refers to the time when night has just fallen; often used in contexts like going out or starting evening activities.

宵よいの口くちに、街まちに繰くり出だし

た

。

We went out on the town at nightfall.

まだ宵よいの口くちだから、もう少すこし遊あそぼう。

It's still early evening, so let's hang out a bit more.

Kanji

宵wee hours, evening, early night
口mouth

Related words

夕ゆう方がた
夕方 is the broader term for 'evening' or 'late afternoon', while 宵の口 specifically refers to the beginning of night, often with a nuance of nightlife or going out.
夜よる
夜 is the general word for 'night', whereas 宵の口 pinpoints the early part of the night.

Built from

宵よい+口くち

Etymology

Compound of 宵 (よい, 'early evening') + の (possessive particle) + 口 (くち, 'mouth/beginning'), literally 'the mouth of the evening'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the expression is conventionally associated with the start of nighttime.