Japanese kanji 夕: 夕方 and 夕食

The idea

夕 has 3 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Read 夕方 as ゆうがた and 夕食 as ゆうしょく. N4 is an estimated learning level, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Examples

• 夕方ゆうがたに友達ともだちと会あいます。I meet a friend in the late afternoon.
• 夕方ゆうがたはいつも涼すずしいです。It is always cool in the late afternoon.
• 夕食ゆうしょくは六時ろくじからです。Dinner starts at six.
• 夕日ゆうひがとてもきれいです。The evening sun is very beautiful.
• 夕飯ゆうはんにカレーを作つくります。I will make curry for dinner.
• 父ちちは夕ゆうご飯はんを作つくっています。My father is making dinner.

Watch out

Compare the shapes of 夕 and 外. Read whole words: 夕方 means late afternoon; early evening, whereas 夕食 means evening meal. 夕方 is late afternoon or early evening; 夜 means night.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 夕方 in hiragana.

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   ゆうがた

   夕方 is read ゆうがた and means late afternoon; early evening. In the example: I meet a friend in the late afternoon.

2. Write the reading of 夕食 in hiragana.

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   ゆうしょく

   夕食 is read ゆうしょく and means evening meal. In the example: Dinner starts at six.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿食（ゆうしょく）［夕／外］.

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   夕

   夕 completes 夕食, read ゆうしょく; the word means evening meal.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 夕 from memory, then read 夕方 and 夕食 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.