A beautiful sunrise!

[manxmike]

Hi,

In reply to a picture I posted on Facebook, a Japanese contact posted 綺麗な夕焼け.

While checking the kanji for sunrise and sunset I saw sunset as 日没. Is there a difference in usage between that and 夕焼け?

Thanks!

[community.japanese]

manxmike-san,
good question!

As you checked, 日没 means "sunset", yes Or, lieterally, "sundown" (日 = sun; 没 = down)
夕焼け is actually often translated as "sunset". This 夕焼け means the sky is burnt-coloured of evening (literally), so
it usually mentions to orange-coloured sky, whereas 日没 refers more to the fact (or time) the sun "is gone".

Hope this helps!

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

[manxmike]

Thank you Natsuko!