Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
开夜车 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
开夜车kāiyèchēto burn the midnight oilHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #30904, Hard
开夜车kāiyèchēto work late into the nightHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #30904, Hard
kāiyèchē(kai1ye4che1) T1
  1. 1to burn the midnight oil
  2. 2to work late into the night
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

开夜车(開夜車)kāiyèchē(kai1ye4che1)

开夜车 refers to the act of working late into the night, often to meet deadlines or finish tasks. This phrase is commonly used among students and professionals who need to complete assignments or projects when time is limited.

Strokes16Frequency#30904DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

Burning the midnight oil is common in Chinese culture, especially during exam periods, reflecting the high value placed on education and hard work. Many students pull all-nighters to prepare for crucial tests.

Memory Tip

Imagine driving a car (车) through the night (夜) with the headlights on, representing the effort to keep working (开) when everyone else is asleep. The sound 'kai' can remind you of 'key,' unlocking your productivity at night.

Meanings of 开夜车

kāiyèchē(kai1ye4che1)
1to burn the midnight oil
2to work late into the night
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 开夜车

开夜车Simplified
開夜車Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1

Podcast: 开夜车

JasonAmy

Podcast: 开夜车

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 开夜车

Usage Notes

This expression is informal and is typically used in casual conversations. Be careful not to confuse it with other phrases that imply working hard; '开夜车' specifically emphasizes the late-night aspect. It’s often used in contexts like studying or finishing work.

HSK Study Tips

While '开夜车' may not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding this colloquial phrase is beneficial for conversational fluency. Students should focus on similar expressions related to work and time management at this level.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 开夜车 in formal contexts, which can seem unprofessional. For example, saying '我在开夜车工作' in a business meeting may not be appropriate; instead, you could say '我在加班' (I am working overtime).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 开夜车

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 开夜车 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

开kāito open
HSK 14 strokes廾
View full entry
夜yènight, dark; under cover of night
HSK 48 strokes夕
View full entry
车chēcar
HSK 14 strokes车
View full entry

How to say to burn the midnight oil in Chinese

“to burn the midnight oil” in Chinese is开夜车kāiyèchē

开夜车 refers to the act of working late into the night, often to meet deadlines or finish tasks. This phrase is commonly used among students and professionals who need to complete assignments or projects when time is limited.

When to use 开夜车

This expression is informal and is typically used in casual conversations. Be careful not to confuse it with other phrases that imply working hard; '开夜车' specifically emphasizes the late-night aspect. It’s often used in contexts like studying or finishing work.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 开夜车 in formal contexts, which can seem unprofessional. For example, saying '我在开夜车工作' in a business meeting may not be appropriate; instead, you could say '我在加班' (I am working overtime).

Write 开夜车

开
夜
车

Practice writing 开夜车 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 开夜车

No, while it's often associated with students, professionals also use it when they need to work long hours to meet deadlines.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 开夜车?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.