晩夏

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 晩夏, read ばんか. Elements for late and summer combine to denote the closing part of summer.
• Basic usage: 晩夏の庭 concerns a change heard in a late-summer garden, while 晩夏の気配 concerns a seasonal hint felt in the sea breeze.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A garden where insect sounds begin
  • Insect calls begin to be heard in the garden in late summer. Example: 晩夏の庭では虫の声が聞こえ始める。 — Insects begin to sing in the garden in late summer.
• A hint of summer’s end in the breeze
  • The sea breeze carries a perceptible hint that summer is nearing its end. Example: 海から吹く風に晩夏の気配を感じた。 — The breeze from the sea carried a hint of summer's end.