Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Night" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "night", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
百鬼夜行
ひゃっきやこう (hyakkiyakō)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
可惜夜
あたらよ
C2PLUS / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "night" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 百鬼夜行 and 可惜夜.
In Japanese, 百鬼夜行 (ひゃっきやこう (hyakkiyakō)) is typically associated with "night parade of one hundred demons/monsters; (metaphorical) a chaotic, unruly, or suspicious gathering of many people." (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Literally refers to a procession of yokai, but often used metaphorically to describe a chaotic, bewildering, or suspicious gathering of many strange people, sometimes with negative implications..
On the other hand, 可惜夜 (あたらよ) maps to "a night too beautiful to be wasted in sleep" (Syllabus Level: C2PLUS) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "night" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "百鬼夜行"
夜の繁華街は、まるで百鬼夜行のようだった。
The downtown at night was like a night parade of a hundred demons.
Bilingual Context for "可惜夜"
私は可惜夜に興味があります。
I am interested in a night too beautiful to be wasted in sleep.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "夜の繁華街は、まるで ＿＿＿ のようだった。" (Meaning: "The downtown at night was like a night parade of a hundred demons.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "百鬼夜行" fits here because it means "night parade of one hundred demons/monsters; (metaphorical) a chaotic, unruly, or suspicious gathering of many people." in the context of: "The downtown at night was like a night parade of a hundred demons.". "可惜夜" represents "a night too beautiful to be wasted in sleep".