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March 24, 2026
宵xiāo(xiao1)
The character 宵 (xiāo) refers to the night or evening, often associated with darkness and the time when most people rest. It is commonly used in expressions related to late hours and can describe both the physical absence of light and the cultural significance of night-time activities or events.
Strokes10Radical宀Frequency#13014DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 夜宵 (yè xiāo) or late-night snacks is a beloved tradition, particularly in urban areas where night markets buzz with activity. This showcases the social aspect of gathering and dining even after dark.
Memory Tip
Imagine the character 宵 as a cozy house (宵) where the night (xiāo) brings peace and rest. The roof (宀) symbolizes shelter under which people find comfort during the dark hours, helping you remember both its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 宵
xiāo(xiao1)
1night
2night, evening, darkness
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 宵 means.
About 宵
宵Simplified
10Strokes
宀Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#13014Frequency Rank
Podcast: 宵
Podcast: 宵
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AI Study Notes for 宵
Quick Contrast
夜 (yè) - use 宵 for cultural or poetic references to night, while 夜 is more general and everyday.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 宵; it should be pronounced with a high level tone (xiāo). It is often found in phrases like '宵夜' (xiāo yè), meaning late-night snack, which is popular in Chinese culture. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 宵 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects well with other words related to time and daily activities at HSK Level 3, such as 昼 (zhòu, day) and 夜 (yè, night). Focus on using 宵 in context to enhance your understanding of time-related expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 宵 (xiāo) with 夜 (yè) when discussing night. For example, saying '晚上' (wǎn shang) for night can be correct, but using '宵' in contexts that require a specific nuance of night is essential. Ensure you're using 宵 in the right context to convey the evening atmosphere.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宵
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How Well Do You Know 宵?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 宵 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
宵 = 宀 + 肖. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 宵
IDS Structure⿱宀肖
宵Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
肖Xiao1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 宵?
How to say night in Chinese
“night” in Chinese is宵xiāo
The character 宵 (xiāo) refers to the night or evening, often associated with darkness and the time when most people rest. It is commonly used in expressions related to late hours and can describe both the physical absence of light and the cultural significance of night-time activities or events.
When to use 宵
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 宵; it should be pronounced with a high level tone (xiāo). It is often found in phrases like '宵夜' (xiāo yè), meaning late-night snack, which is popular in Chinese culture. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
宵 or something close to it
夜 (yè) - use 宵 for cultural or poetic references to night, while 夜 is more general and everyday.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 宵 (xiāo) with 夜 (yè) when discussing night. For example, saying '晚上' (wǎn shang) for night can be correct, but using '宵' in contexts that require a specific nuance of night is essential. Ensure you're using 宵 in the right context to convey the evening atmosphere.
Write 宵
宵
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Practice writing 宵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 宵
宵 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
地方当局说____禁是一种预防措施。
The local administration says the curfew is a precautionary measure.
