evening

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 夕 means evening; its kun-reading is ゆう and its on-reading is せき.
• Basic usage: 夕方(ゆうがた) means evening, while 夕食(ゆうしょく) means the evening meal.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Until evening and the evening meal
  • 夕方まで marks a time limit, until evening. 夕食 refers to the evening meal.
  • Both words begin with ゆう. The latter part of 夕方 is read がた.