growing late; latening
Used as a noun or suffix to indicate that it is getting late, especially at night. Often appears in the phrase 夜の更け (the lateness of the night) or as a suffix in words like 夜更け (late at night).
As the night grew late, the town became quiet.
I worked until late at night.
grow late; advance (of night/season)
late at night; small hours of the morning
Standard kanji spelling for this noun/suffix meaning 'growing late'.
Abbreviated kanji form; less common than 更け.
Alternate kanji form; rarely used for this meaning.
Derived from the verb 更ける (ふける, 'to grow late'). The noun form 更け is used to express the state of lateness, especially of the night.