Japanese

ける

あける
Meaning: to dawn; to end (a period of time); to begin (a new year/day)
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 明ける 明けない
Polite 明けます 明けません
Past 明けた 明けなかった
Polite + Past 明けました 明けませんでした
Te-form 明けて 明けなくて
Potential 明けられる 明けられない
Passive 明けられる 明けられない
Causative 明けさせる 明けさせない
Imperative 明けろ 明けるな

Handwriting

明
け
る

Example sentences

The rainy season ended, and full-scale summer began.
宵なは来なに明けぬ時来る。
Night fell but you did not come, and now the dawn is arriving.
彼は読書に耽溺して、夜が明けるのも忘れていた。
He was so absorbed in reading that he forgot it was dawn.

Usage Notes

Used when a specific period (night, year, season) ends and a new state begins.

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