夕刻|ゆうこくyuukoku[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, adverbevening; evening hour
   その旅行者りょこうしゃは夕刻ゆうこくニューヨークに着ついた。↗

   The traveler arrived in New York in the evening.

• Synonym夕暮れゆうぐれNeutralThe time when the sun sets; a native Japanese word with a lyrical feel, whereas 「夕刻」 is the time expression of official documents and news.
• Synonym黄昏たそがれNeutralDusk, and by extension the twilight of life; strongly literary and tinged with melancholy.
• Synonym夕方ゆうがたNeutralThe everyday word for early evening and the most common choice; 「夕刻」 is more written in flavor, seen mainly in news and announcements.
• SynonymイブニングNeutralA loanword for the evening, mostly in compounds like 「イブニングドレス」; seldom used on its own.
• Synonym暮れくれNeutralDay's end or dusk, but also year-end; used alone it usually means the end of the year.
• Synonym夕ゆうNeutralAlso written 「夕」: evening into night, or last night; in speech it is mostly taken to mean 「昨夜」.
• Synonym夕闇ゆうやみNeutralThe darkness between sunset and moonrise, or that time of day; stresses the sky growing dark.
• Synonym薄暮はくぼWrittenDusk or twilight; written in register, often seen in weather reports and traffic-accident notices.
• Related日暮れひぐれNeutralThe time when darkness falls; colloquial, stressing the process of the sky darkening.
• Related日没にちぼつNeutralThe setting of the sun as an event; stresses the astronomical phenomenon, not a period of time.
• Related日の入りひのいりNeutralSunset and the moment it happens, common in weather forecasts; the counterpart of 「日の出」.
• Related晩ばんNeutralEvening or night, later in range than 「夕刻」, and also dinner.
• Related火灯し頃ひともしごろWrittenThe time when lamps are lit; an archaic, elegant expression rarely used today.
• Related夕べゆうべNeutralEvening into night, or the night of a special event, as in 「音楽の夕べ」; has an elegant, refined air.
• Related夕まぐれゆうまぐれWrittenThe twilight after sunset while the sky still holds light; a literary term, not often used.
• Related入相いりあいWrittenSunset time, also the evening bell; an old word found mainly in poetry and prose.
• Related暮れ方くれがたWrittenEvening around sunset; written in register, meaning much the same as 「夕方」 but more elegant.
• Related入り方いりがたWrittenThe time the sun or moon sets; focuses on celestial bodies sinking — a written term, not often used.
• Related逢魔が時おうまがときNeutralThe dusk when, legend says, one may meet yokai; carries folkloric, ghost-story overtones.
• Related薄暮れうすぐれWrittenThe time when the sky is just beginning to darken; a literary term, not often used.
• Related暮れ暮れくれぐれWrittenNightfall at dusk; archaic and elegant, almost never used in modern Japanese.
• Antonym朝方あさがたNeutralAntonym: the morning hours, early in the day; the opposite of evening 「夕刻」.
• Antonym早朝そうちょうNeutralAntonym: first thing in the morning, the early hours; the opposite of evening 「夕刻」.

「夕刻」 is the written, news-and-announcement way to say early evening, as in 「本日夕刻」. For everyday conversation use 「夕方」; for a lyrical tone pick 「夕暮れ」 or 「黄昏」; for the evening or night say 「晩」. The antonym is 「早朝」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 夕方ゆうがた。夕景ゆうけい。