Meaning
日暮 is a literary and poetic term referring to the time of day when the sun sets and darkness begins to fall. It carries a somewhat melancholic or contemplative tone and is more commonly found in classical Chinese poetry, literature, and formal writing than in everyday conversation.
Usage
This is a formal, elegant expression rarely used in casual speech. Native speakers typically use 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) or 黄昏 (huánghūn) for 'dusk' in daily conversation. 日暮 appears frequently in classical poetry and literary works to evoke mood or atmosphere, often symbolizing the passage of time or the end of something.
Examples
- 01日暮乡关何处是,烟波江上使人愁。, .At dusk, where is my hometown? The misty waves on the river make one melancholic.
- 02他站在山顶,望着日暮的景色陷入沉思。, .He stood on the mountaintop, gazing at the scene at dusk and falling into deep thought.
Characters
Common collocations
- 日暮途穷at the end of one's rope (idiom: sunset and road's end)
- 日暮时分at dusk, at twilight hour
Antonyms
Origin
日 (sun) + 暮 (evening) literally means 'the sun's evening' or 'when the sun grows late.' This compound has been used in Chinese literature for over two millennia to describe the twilight hour.