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March 24, 2026
晚wǎn(wan3)
The character 晚 (wǎn) primarily means 'evening' or 'night.' It can also indicate something being 'late,' such as arriving later than expected. This character is often used in contexts related to time, such as discussing evening activities or scheduling.
Strokes11Radical日Frequency#429DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the evening is often a time for family gatherings and meals, emphasizing the importance of spending time with loved ones after a busy day. The phrase '晚餐' (wǎncān) meaning 'dinner' is commonly used.
Memory Tip
Imagine a setting sun casting a warm glow over the horizon at dusk, symbolizing the transition from day to '晚' (wǎn). The character itself features the radical for 'sun' (日) on the bottom, reminding you of the evening sun, while the top part suggests the flow of time into night.
Meanings of 晚
wǎn(wan3)
1evening
2night
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 晚
晚Simplified
11Strokes
日Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#429Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 晚
Podcast: 晚
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AI Study Notes for 晚
Quick Contrast
晚 (wǎn) vs 迟 (chí) — use 晚 when referring to the evening or night, while 迟 emphasizes being late, especially in terms of time or punctuality.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 晚 with 早 (zǎo), which means 'early.' In informal contexts, you might encounter phrases like '晚安' (wǎn'ān) for 'good night,' but in formal writing, avoid using overly casual expressions. Additionally, remember the correct tone for '晚' is the third tone, which can sometimes be mistaken for the second.
HSK Study Tips
While 晚 is not part of the official HSK level vocabulary, it connects well with other time-related words at HSK Level 1 and 2, such as 早 (zǎo, early). Focus on using it in phrases related to time and practice its pronunciation alongside similar words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly use 晚 in contexts meant for daytime. For example, saying '早晚' (zǎowǎn) instead of '早上' (zǎoshàng) for 'morning' is incorrect; '早' should be used for morning times.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 晚
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Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 免 represents the sound.
1The giveawayAvoiding 免 the sun 日; 免 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 晚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 晚?
Decomposition of 晚
IDS Structure⿰日免
晚Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
免mian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 晚?
How to say evening in Chinese
“evening” in Chinese is晚wǎn
The character 晚 (wǎn) primarily means 'evening' or 'night.' It can also indicate something being 'late,' such as arriving later than expected. This character is often used in contexts related to time, such as discussing evening activities or scheduling.
When to use 晚
Be careful not to confuse 晚 with 早 (zǎo), which means 'early.' In informal contexts, you might encounter phrases like '晚安' (wǎn'ān) for 'good night,' but in formal writing, avoid using overly casual expressions. Additionally, remember the correct tone for '晚' is the third tone, which can sometimes be mistaken for the second.
晚 or something close to it
晚 (wǎn) vs 迟 (chí) — use 晚 when referring to the evening or night, while 迟 emphasizes being late, especially in terms of time or punctuality.
What learners get wrong
Learners often incorrectly use 晚 in contexts meant for daytime. For example, saying '早晚' (zǎowǎn) instead of '早上' (zǎoshàng) for 'morning' is incorrect; '早' should be used for morning times.
Write 晚
晚
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Practice writing 晚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 晚
晚 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
