bàngwǎn: 傍晚 - Dusk, Evening

Keywords: 傍晚, bangwan, Chinese for evening, dusk in Chinese, what is bangwan, Chinese time words, 黄昏, 晚上, twilight in Mandarin, nightfall in Chinese, how to say dusk in Chinese.

Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 傍晚 (bàngwǎn), the essential Chinese word for dusk, evening, or twilight. This comprehensive guide explores the cultural significance of this specific time of day, how it differs from the more general term 晚上 (wǎnshang - night), and provides 10 practical example sentences for beginner to intermediate learners. Discover how to use 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) correctly to describe the beautiful transition from late afternoon to early night in modern Mandarin Chinese.

Pinyin (with tone marks): bàngwǎn

Part of Speech: Noun (Time Word)

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: The time of day around sunset; dusk, twilight, or early evening.

In a Nutshell: 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) refers to that specific, often beautiful, period when the day transitions into night. Think of the time between roughly 5 PM and 7 PM, when the sun is setting, the sky is changing colors, and people are finishing work and heading home. It's a more precise and often more evocative term than the general word for “night” (晚上, wǎnshang).

傍 (bàng): This character means “to be near,” “close to,” or “alongside.” The left-hand radical 亻(rén) means “person,” and the right side 旁 (páng) means “side.” It paints a picture of being right next to something.

晚 (wǎn): This character means “late” or “evening.” The left-hand radical 日 (rì) is the sun. So, 晚 represents the time when the sun is late in its daily cycle.

Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) literally means “approaching the evening” or “close to the night.” This beautifully captures the idea of a transition period—not quite afternoon, and not quite full night, but the moments in between.

In Chinese culture, 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) is often a time of tranquility, family, and transition. It marks the end of the workday (下班, xiàbān) and the beginning of personal time. It's when families return home to cook and eat dinner together, and when public parks fill with people taking a leisurely stroll (散步, sànbù) to unwind.

This time of day holds a special place in Chinese art and poetry, often used to evoke feelings of nostalgia, melancholy beauty, or peaceful reflection. The soft, fading light is seen as a time for contemplation.

Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, we have “dusk” and “twilight,” which are excellent translations. However, 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) is used far more frequently in everyday conversation than its English counterparts. While an English speaker might just say “Let's meet in the evening,” which could mean any time from 6 PM to 10 PM, a Chinese speaker might specify 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) to clearly mean “around sunset time.” The key difference is that 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) is a specific slice of the evening, whereas `晚上 (wǎnshang)` covers the entire night until bedtime.

Making Plans: It's very common to use 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) to arrange to meet up after work for dinner or other activities. “你傍晚有空吗?” (Are you free this evening?) is a very natural invitation.

Describing a Scene: People often use it to describe the beauty of a sunset or the atmosphere of a city as the lights turn on.

Weather Forecasts: Meteorologists use 傍晚 (bàngwǎn) to specify weather changes that will occur around sunset.

Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without issue. It is a standard, descriptive time word.

Rule of Thumb: If you can say “dusk” or “twilight” in English, you can probably use 傍晚. If you would say “night” or “at night,” you should use 晚上.

`晚上 (wǎnshang)` - Night; the general time period that follows 傍晚.

`黄昏 (huánghūn)` - Dusk, twilight. A more literary and poetic synonym for 傍晚.

`下午 (xiàwǔ)` - Afternoon; the time period immediately preceding 傍晚.

`日落 (rìluò)` - Sunset; the specific event of the sun setting, which occurs during 傍晚.

`黎明 (límíng)` - Dawn, daybreak; the direct antonym of 傍晚.

`清晨 (qīngchén)` - Early morning; another specific, evocative time of day, similar in precision to 傍晚.

`晚霞 (wǎnxiá)` - Sunset clouds; a beautiful sight often visible during 傍晚.

`下班 (xiàbān)` - To get off work; an activity that for many people marks the beginning of their 傍晚.

`散步 (sànbù)` - To take a walk/stroll; a very common and culturally significant activity to do during 傍晚.

`夜晚 (yèwǎn)` - Nighttime; a slightly more formal or literary term for `晚上`.