B1 adverb Neutral 1 min read

遅くまで

osoku made /osokumade/
Practice it

Used to describe an action that persists until a late hour of the night.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used to describe an action continuing until a late hour.
  • Commonly used with verbs like working, studying, or staying awake.
  • Indicates a duration extending into the late night.

一般的な文脈

主に仕事の残業、試験勉強、友人との会話やパーティーなど、本来予定していた時間よりも長く時間が経過している状況で使われます。また、相手を気遣う際や、自分の状況を説明する際にも頻出します。

類語との比較

「夜遅く」は「夜の遅い時間」という時点を指すのに対し、「遅くまで」は「その時間まで継続している」というプロセスに焦点が当たります。「夜更けまで」はより文学的で、深夜であることを強調する際に使われます。

Examples

1

昨日は仕事が忙しくて、遅くまで残業しました。

everyday

I was busy with work yesterday and worked late overtime.

2

遅くまでお付き合いいただき、ありがとうございました。

formal

Thank you for staying with me until late.

3

週末は友達と遅くまで話していた。

informal

I was talking with my friend until late on the weekend.

4

研究者は遅くまで実験室で作業を続けた。

academic

The researcher continued working in the laboratory until late.

Common Collocations

遅くまで働く work late
遅くまで起きている stay up late
遅くまで遊ぶ hang out until late

Common Phrases

遅くまでお疲れ様です

Thank you for your hard work until late.

遅くまでごめんね

Sorry for keeping you up late.

Often Confused With

遅くまで vs 夜遅く

Refers to a point in time rather than the duration of an action. Use 'yoru osoku' for 'at a late hour'.

Grammar Patterns

動詞の連用形 ＋ 遅くまで 〜まで ＋ 遅くまで

How to Use It

Usage Notes

It is a neutral adverb used in most situations. When speaking to superiors, use it with polite phrases like 'お疲れ様です'. It implies that the action mentioned is the reason for staying up late.

Common Mistakes

Students often say 'osoi made' which is incorrect. Always use 'osoku made'. Also, do not confuse it with 'osoku ni' which refers to a specific point in time.

Tips

💡

Focus on the duration aspect

Remember that this word implies a duration, not just a point in time. It describes how long you have been doing something.

⚠️

Avoid giving orders with this word

Using this phrase to tell someone to work late can sound demanding. Always pair it with gratitude or empathy.

🌍

Japanese work culture and late hours

In Japan, working late is often associated with dedication. You will hear this word very frequently in office environments.

Word Origin

Derived from the adjective 'osoi' (late) combined with the particle 'made' (until), indicating the temporal boundary of an action.

Cultural Context

Reflects the common Japanese experience of long working hours. It is often used to express social bonding through shared late-night activities.

Memory Tip

Think of it as 'Osoku' (late) + 'made' (until). It is the limit of your day.

Frequently Asked Questions

3 questions

「遅くまで」は継続的な動作（〜までずっと）を指しますが、「夜遅く」は特定の時点（夜遅い時間に）を指します。使い分けに注意してください。

はい、問題ありません。ただし、目上の人に「遅くまで働いてください」と言うと強制的に聞こえるため、「遅くまでお疲れ様です」のように労いの言葉として使うのが適切です。

特に制限はありませんが、継続性のある動詞（働く、勉強する、話す、起きている）と非常に相性が良いです。

Test Yourself

fill blank

試験が近いので、昨日は___勉強しました。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 遅くまで

「遅くまで〜する」という継続を表す慣用的な形です。

Score: /1

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