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夜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
夜
yè
night, dark; under cover of night
HSK 4, t, 8 strokes, radical 夕, rank #1059, Medium
yè(ye4)ye T4
1night, dark; under cover of night
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March 24, 2026
夜(亱)yè(ye4)
夜 (yè) refers to 'night' or 'darkness.' It is commonly used to describe the time after sunset when it is dark outside. In various contexts, it can imply secrecy or activities that occur during the night.
Strokes8Radical夕Frequency#1059DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the night holds significant meaning, often associated with family gatherings or cultural events like moon festivals. Activities such as 夜市 (night markets) are popular for socializing and enjoying local delicacies.
Memory tip
Think of the character 夜 as a dark sky at night. The top part '亻' resembles a person standing alone in the dark, while the bottom '夕' signifies the setting sun, making it memorable that 'night' is when the sun has set.
Meanings of 夜
yè(ye4)
1night, dark; under cover of night
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About 夜
夜Simplified
亱Traditional
8Strokes
夕Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#1059Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 夜
Podcast: 夜
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AI study notes for 夜
Quick Contrast
夜 (yè, night) vs 晚 (wǎn, evening) — use 夜 for the time after sunset, while 晚 refers to the later part of the day before night.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 夜 with other similar words like 明 (bright) or 晚 (evening). While 夜 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, it often appears in expressions related to nighttime activities, such as 夜市 (night market). Also, remember to use the correct tone; 'yè' has a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 夜 connects with other vocabulary related to time and daily activities. Focus on its usage in phrases and collocations to enhance your understanding and fluency in discussing nighttime events.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 夜 with other time-related words like 晚 (evening). An incorrect example is using '晚上' (wǎn shang) when referring to night activities that are best described with '夜' (yè). The correct phrase would be '夜晚' (yè wǎn) for 'night.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 夜
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How to say night, dark; under cover of night in Chinese
“night, dark; under cover of night” in Chinese is夜yè
夜 (yè) refers to 'night' or 'darkness.' It is commonly used to describe the time after sunset when it is dark outside. In various contexts, it can imply secrecy or activities that occur during the night.
When to use 夜
Be careful not to confuse 夜 with other similar words like 明 (bright) or 晚 (evening). While 夜 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, it often appears in expressions related to nighttime activities, such as 夜市 (night market). Also, remember to use the correct tone; 'yè' has a falling tone.
夜 or something close to it
夜 (yè, night) vs 晚 (wǎn, evening) — use 夜 for the time after sunset, while 晚 refers to the later part of the day before night.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 夜 with other time-related words like 晚 (evening). An incorrect example is using '晚上' (wǎn shang) when referring to night activities that are best described with '夜' (yè). The correct phrase would be '夜晚' (yè wǎn) for 'night.'
Write 夜
夜
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Grammar patterns of 夜
夜 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
An overnight stay at a friend's house disorients me.
8
我们在夜深人静的时候把它埋到了花园里。
wǒmen zài yè shēn rén jìng de shíhou bǎ tā mái dào le huāyuán lǐ。
We buried it in the garden at dead of night.
9
战斗在傍晚时分打响，持续了一夜。
zhàndòu zài bàngwǎn shí fēn dǎ xiǎng， chíxù le yī yè。
The fighting began in the late afternoon and continued all night.
10
她整夜都守在病重的儿子床边。
tā zhěng yè dōu shǒu zài bìng zhòng de érzi chuáng biān。
She kept vigil at the bedside of her critically ill son.
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Cultural Notes for 夜
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many Western cultures, the concept of nighttime is often associated with relaxation and winding down, whereas in Chinese culture, it can be bustling with activities like night markets and late-night gatherings.
Word Family of 夜
Compounds5
液yèliquid
腋yèarmpit
掖yēto tuck, to fold; to support
棭yì
焲yì
Words containing this character20
夜yèvariant of 夜[yè]亱
夜晚yèwǎnnight
半夜bànyèmidnight
午夜wǔyèmidnight
夜间yèjiānnighttime夜間
过夜guòyèovernight過夜
深夜shēnyèvery late at night
夜里yèliat night夜裡
夜总会yèzǒnghuìnightclub夜總會
黑夜hēiyènight
今夜jīnyètonight
熬夜áoyèto stay up late or all night
整夜zhěngyèthe whole night
夜班yèbānnight shift
日夜rìyèday and night
宵夜xiāoyèmidnight snack
夜色yèsènight scene
连夜liányèthat very night連夜
夜空yèkōngnight sky
昨夜zuóyèlast night
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 夜
What does 液 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 夜
夜 (yè) specifically refers to 'night,' while 晚 (wǎn) means 'late' or refers to the evening. For instance, you would use 夜 when talking about the time after sunset, while 晚 can describe activities that happen in the evening or late at night.
Yes, 夜 is a common character in the Chinese language, especially in contexts related to time and daily activities. You will encounter it frequently in conversations, literature, and media when discussing night or darkness.
夜 (yè) means 'night' in Chinese. It is used to refer to the time of day when it is dark, typically after sunset. In various contexts, it can also imply being under the cover of darkness.
You can use 夜 (yè) in sentences to describe nighttime activities or situations. For example, '我晚上十点睡觉' (Wǒ wǎnshàng shí diǎn shuìjiào) means 'I go to sleep at ten o'clock at night.' It can also appear in expressions like '夜晚' (yèwǎn) meaning 'nighttime.'
You can say '我喜欢晚上去夜市' (I like going to the night market in the evening).
No, 夜 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, making it versatile for various contexts.
夜 refers specifically to night, while 晚 can mean evening and is not exclusively dark.
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