HSK 4, t, 8 strokes, radical 夕, rank #1059, Medium
yè(ye4) 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
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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。
wǒ mén zài yè shēn rén jìng de shí hòu bǎ tā mái dào le huā yuán 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。
zhàn dǒu zài bàng wǎn shí fēn dǎ xiǎng， ， chí xù le yī。
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 dū shǒu zài bìng zhòng de ér zǐ chuáng biān。
She kept vigil at the bedside of her critically ill son.
Cultural Notes for 夜
🏮Cultural insight
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.
🌏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ye4liquid
腋ye4armpit
掖ye1to tuck, to fold; to support
棭
焲
Words Containing This Character20
夜yèvariant of 夜[yè]亱
夜晚yèwǎnnight
半夜bànyèmidnight
午夜midnight
夜间yèjiānnighttime夜間
过夜overnight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tonight
熬夜áoyèto stay up late or all night
整夜the whole night
夜班yèbānnight shift
日夜rìyèday and night
宵夜midnight snack
夜色night scene
连夜liányèthat very night連夜
夜空night sky
昨夜last night
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
