宵闇

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 宵闇, read よいやみ, is the gathering darkness shortly after sunset at the beginning of evening.
• Basic usage: House lights may stand out within it, or a traveler may hurry to lodging before it closes in.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Darkness at the beginning of evening
  • This is the gathering darkness of early evening, when house lights appear or a traveler hurries to lodging. Its time differs from deep midnight.