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通宵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
通宵tōngxiāoall nightHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #8734, Very Hard
通宵tōngxiāothroughout the nightHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #8734, Very Hard
tōngxiāo(tong1xiao1)tong xiao T1
  1. 1all night
  2. 2throughout the night
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March 24, 2026

通宵tōngxiāo(tong1xiao1)

通宵 (tōng xiāo) means to stay up all night or to do something throughout the night. It is commonly used in contexts like studying, partying, or working late, often implying a sense of endurance or necessity to stay awake during the night.

Strokes20Frequency#8734DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, it’s common for students to '通宵' during exam periods as a sign of dedication, reflecting the societal pressure to succeed academically. This practice is often associated with various cultural events such as festivals or celebrations.

Memory tip

Imagine a '通' (tōng) train that runs all night without stopping, and '宵' (xiāo) sounds like 'shout'—people shouting in excitement at a party that lasts until dawn. The visual of a train running all night helps you remember '通宵' means all night.

Meanings of 通宵

tōngxiāo(tong1xiao1)
1all night
2throughout the night
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About 通宵

通宵Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 通宵

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AI study notes for 通宵

Quick Contrast

熬夜 (áo yè) vs 通宵 (tōng xiāo): Use 通宵 when emphasizing the act of doing something throughout the night, while 熬夜 focuses more on the aspect of staying up late regardless of activity.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 通宵 with other phrases that imply a shorter duration, such as 夜间 (yèjiān), which means at night. 通宵 is more informal and typically used in spoken contexts. Remember to use it correctly with verbs, as in '通宵学习' (study all night).

HSK Study Tips

While 通宵 is not an HSK word, it ties into the themes of daily activities, similar to words from HSK 3, such as 学习 (xuéxí) or 工作 (gōngzuò). Focus on how you can use it in sentences related to your study habits or work commitments.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 通宵 in contexts that imply a shorter time frame, like saying '我通宵学习了两个小时' (I stayed up all night studying for two hours), which is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '我熬夜学习了两个小时' (I stayed up late studying for two hours).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 通宵

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Component characters

通tōngto go through
HSK 410 strokes辶
View full entry
宵xiāonight
10 strokes宀
View full entry

How to say all night in Chinese

“all night” in Chinese is通宵tōngxiāo

通宵 (tōng xiāo) means to stay up all night or to do something throughout the night. It is commonly used in contexts like studying, partying, or working late, often implying a sense of endurance or necessity to stay awake during the night.

When to use 通宵

Be careful not to confuse 通宵 with other phrases that imply a shorter duration, such as 夜间 (yèjiān), which means at night. 通宵 is more informal and typically used in spoken contexts. Remember to use it correctly with verbs, as in '通宵学习' (study all night).

通宵 or something close to it

熬夜 (áo yè) vs 通宵 (tōng xiāo): Use 通宵 when emphasizing the act of doing something throughout the night, while 熬夜 focuses more on the aspect of staying up late regardless of activity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 通宵 in contexts that imply a shorter time frame, like saying '我通宵学习了两个小时' (I stayed up all night studying for two hours), which is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '我熬夜学习了两个小时' (I stayed up late studying for two hours).

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通
宵

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Frequently asked questions about 通宵

No, 通宵 specifically means all night. For staying up late but not until dawn, you might say '熬夜' (áoyè).

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