Entry
とっぷり
toppuri
Completely or entirely, most commonly used to describe the sun having fully set and night falling completely.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An adverb describing a complete transition in time, almost exclusively used in phrases describing the sun completely setting and night taking over entirely.
- used for sunset
- describes complete darkness or end of a period
Sense Map
Sunset & Nightfall
Used to describe the sun having completely set, leaving the surroundings in total darkness.
日がとっぷり暮れる。
Passing of Time
Used poetically to describe a season or a significant period of time coming to a complete end.
秋がとっぷり暮れる。
Usage Note
How to Use
とっぷり暮れる
The most common pattern, meaning 'to get completely dark' or 'night falls completely'.
とっぷりと暮れる
Has the same meaning as とっぷり暮れる, but the addition of the particle と gives a slightly softer, more descriptive rhythm to the transition.
とっぷり + verb
Used before verbs indicating the complete passing of time or sinking.
How to Use
Common Phrases
とっぷり暮れる
to get completely dark
とっぷりと暮れる
night falls completely
日がとっぷり暮れる
the sun sets completely
秋がとっぷり暮れる
autumn passes completely
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset (日が暮れる) | neutral | This is the most standard usage. It describes the state where all twilight is gone and it is genuinely dark. |
| End of a season (秋が暮れる) | neutral | A poetic usage describing a season coming to a full and complete close. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
すっかり すっかり / similar | Used to express a complete change of state in a wide variety of general situations. | Not restricted to time or nightfall. すっかり is much more flexible than とっぷり. | すっかり暗くなった |
ずっぷり ずっぷり / similar | Used when something is completely submerged in water or liquid. | Refers to physical soaking or being submerged, not a transition of time or nightfall. | 水にずっぷり浸かる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using とっぷり to say 'I completely forgot'.
Use すっかり (sukkari) for general completeness like forgetting. とっぷり is only for sunset or passing time.
Using とっぷり to describe being completely drenched in rain.
Use ずっぷり (zuppuri) or びしょびしょ (bishobisho) for being soaked.
Examples
Examples
日がとっぷりと暮れて、辺りは真っ暗になった。
ひがとっぷりとくれて、あたりはまっくらになった。
The sun fully set, and the surroundings became pitch dark.
VisualDescribes the visual transition where all sunlight has disappeared.
買い物をしている間に、外はとっぷり日が暮れていた。
かいものをしているあいだに、そとはとっぷりひがくれていた。
While I was shopping, the sun had completely set outside.
VisualOften used when realizing that time has passed and night has fallen.
山の向こうに太陽が沈み、町はとっぷりと夜に包まれた。
やまのむこうにたいようがしずみ、まちはとっぷりとよるにつつまれた。
The sun sank behind the mountains, and the town was completely enveloped in night.
VisualShows a poetic nuance of darkness enveloping a whole area.
秋もとっぷり暮れて、冬の寒さを感じるようになった。
あきもとっぷりくれて、ふゆのさむさをかんじるようになった。
Autumn has completely passed, and we began to feel the cold of winter.
FigurativeFigurative usage describing the complete end of a season.
仕事が終わる頃には、すでにとっぷり暮れていた。
しごとがおわるころには、すでにとっぷりくれていた。
By the time work finished, it had already gotten completely dark.
VisualA sentence commonly used to express that it got late while working.
Similar Words
ずっぷり
zuppuri
Sounds similar, but zuppuri is used for being completely submerged in water or soaked.
Questions
Can I use this word for anything that is 'completely' done?
No. It is highly restricted to sunset or the passing of a season. For general completeness, use すっかり (sukkari).
Is this word used in daily conversation?
Yes, 'hi ga toppuri kureru' is a common way to remark that it has gotten fully dark outside.
What is the difference between it and すっかり暗くなる (sukkari kuraku naru)?
Both mean it got dark, but とっぷり puts more emphasis on the deep, settling nature of the night taking over.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2009140
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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