夜宵

yèxiāo: 夜宵 - Late-night Snack, Midnight Snack, Fourth Meal

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: yexiao, 夜宵, late-night snack in Chinese, midnight meal China, Chinese street food, what is yexiao, Chinese fourth meal, shaokao, post-dinner meal, Chinese nightlife food
  • Summary: Discover the cultural significance of 夜宵 (yèxiāo), the beloved Chinese “fourth meal.” More than just a late-night snack, `yèxiāo` is a vibrant social ritual, a time for friends to gather after a long day or a night out to enjoy delicious street food like barbecue skewers (烧烤) and noodles. This guide explores the meaning, cultural context, and practical usage of `yèxiāo`, a cornerstone of modern Chinese urban life.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yèxiāo
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: A meal or substantial snack eaten late at night, typically after 9 PM.
  • In a Nutshell: `夜宵` isn't just about grabbing a bite from the fridge when you're hungry before bed. It's a distinct, post-dinner meal, often eaten out with friends or colleagues. It represents a moment of relaxation and social bonding that extends the day, turning the late hours into a lively and communal experience. Think of it less as a “snack” and more as a “fourth meal” that punctuates the end of an evening.

Character Breakdown

  • 夜 (yè): This character means “night” or “evening.” Pictorially, it can be seen as a person (人) under a large cover, symbolizing the darkness and stillness of night.
  • 宵 (xiāo): This character also means “night” or “dark.” It contains the “roof” radical (宀) over a character that represents “similar” or “resemble” (肖), suggesting the deep, uniform darkness of the night.
  • When combined, 夜宵 (yèxiāo) literally translates to “night night” or “evening night.” This repetition emphasizes that this meal takes place deep into the night, clearly distinguishing it from a regular dinner (`晚饭 wǎnfàn`).

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, `夜宵` is a cherished social institution, especially in bustling cities. It embodies the concept of 热闹 (rènao), a love for lively, bustling atmospheres. The act of gathering for `夜宵` is as important as the food itself. It’s a time to de-stress after a long day of work or study, to strengthen friendships, and to simply enjoy the vibrancy of city life after dark.
  • Comparison with Western Culture: An American might think of a “midnight snack” as grabbing a bowl of cereal alone or a quick drive-thru run. While functional, it lacks the communal, ritualistic feel of `夜宵`. The closest equivalent might be a late-night pizza run with friends after a party, but `夜宵` is a far more regular and culturally ingrained practice. It is an established, almost expected, part of a night out, functioning as a social “third space” between evening activities and going home. It reinforces social bonds (`关系 guānxi`) through the simple, shared pleasure of food.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • `夜宵` is an extremely common and informal part of daily life. It's the standard term for the late-night meal, whether enjoyed at a street stall, a 24-hour restaurant, or ordered via a delivery app like Meituan or Ele.me.
  • Common Scenarios:
    • After Work: Colleagues might decide to “去吃个夜宵 (qù chī ge yèxiāo)” to unwind after working overtime.
    • After Socializing: Friends will often cap off an evening of KTV, watching a movie, or playing games with a `夜宵` session.
    • Student Life: University students frequently gather for `夜宵` after late-night study sessions, with campus-adjacent food streets being incredibly popular.
  • The connotation is overwhelmingly positive, associated with fun, friendship, indulgence, and relaxation. The most common foods include 烧烤 (shāokǎo) (barbecue skewers), 麻辣烫 (málàtàng) (spicy hot pot bowls), fried rice, noodles, and dumplings, often accompanied by 啤酒 (píjiǔ) (beer).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 走，我们去吃夜宵吧！
    • Pinyin: Zǒu, wǒmen qù chī yèxiāo ba!
    • English: Let's go, let's go get a late-night snack!
    • Analysis: This is a classic, informal invitation. “吃夜宵” (chī yèxiāo) is the standard verb phrase, literally “to eat a late-night meal.”
  • Example 2:
    • 昨晚的夜宵我们吃的是烧烤和啤酒。
    • Pinyin: Zuówǎn de yèxiāo wǒmen chī de shì shāokǎo hé píjiǔ.
    • English: For our late-night meal last night, we had barbecue and beer.
    • Analysis: This sentence describes the content of the `夜宵`, highlighting two of the most popular choices.
  • Example 3:
    • 经常吃夜宵对身体不好，容易长胖。
    • Pinyin: Jīngcháng chī yèxiāo duì shēntǐ bù hǎo, róngyì zhǎng pàng.
    • English: Frequently eating late-night meals is not good for your health; it's easy to gain weight.
    • Analysis: This shows a common piece of advice or concern related to the `夜宵` habit.
  • Example 4:
    • 加班到这么晚，我得点个夜宵外卖。
    • Pinyin: Jiābān dào zhème wǎn, wǒ děi diǎn ge yèxiāo wàimài.
    • English: Having worked overtime this late, I need to order a late-night meal for delivery.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the modern convenience of ordering `夜宵` via delivery services (`外卖 wàimài`).
  • Example 5:
    • 夏天的晚上，街边的夜宵摊特别热闹。
    • Pinyin: Xiàtiān de wǎnshang, jiēbiān de yèxiāo tān tèbié rènao.
    • English: On summer nights, the roadside late-night food stalls are especially lively.
    • Analysis: This sentence captures the atmosphere (`热闹 rènao`) that is central to the `夜宵` culture. `夜宵摊` (yèxiāo tān) means “late-night food stall.”
  • Example 6:
    • 你想吃什么当夜宵？面条还是饺子？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme dāng yèxiāo? Miàntiáo háishì jiǎozi?
    • English: What do you want to have for your late-night meal? Noodles or dumplings?
    • Analysis: The phrase “当夜宵” (dāng yèxiāo) means “as a late-night meal,” showing how to ask about specific food choices.
  • Example 7:
    • 考试周，学校门口的夜宵店生意都很好。
    • Pinyin: Kǎoshì zhōu, xuéxiào ménkǒu de yèxiāo diàn shēngyi dōu hěn hǎo.
    • English: During exam week, the late-night food shops at the school gate all do very good business.
    • Analysis: This highlights a specific context—student life—where `夜宵` is extremely popular.
  • Example 8:
    • 我们看完电影都饿了，就去附近找了个地方吃夜宵。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen kàn wán diànyǐng dōu è le, jiù qù fùjìn zhǎo le ge dìfang chī yèxiāo.
    • English: We were all hungry after watching the movie, so we went to find a place nearby to eat a late-night meal.
    • Analysis: This shows `夜宵` as a natural follow-up activity to another evening event.
  • Example 9:
    • 虽然我知道不健康，但我就是戒不掉吃夜宵的习惯。
    • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ zhīdào bù jiànkāng, dàn wǒ jiùshì jiè bù diào chī yèxiāo de xíguàn.
    • English: Although I know it's unhealthy, I just can't quit the habit of eating a late-night meal.
    • Analysis: This expresses the tempting, almost addictive nature of the `夜宵` ritual for many people.
  • Example 10:
    • 这家店的夜宵很有名，我们得早点去排队。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de yèxiāo hěn yǒumíng, wǒmen děi zǎodiǎn qù páiduì.
    • English: This restaurant's late-night food is very famous, we have to go early to queue up.
    • Analysis: This illustrates that some `夜宵` spots are destinations in their own right, so popular that they require lining up.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `夜宵` vs. “Snack” (`零食 língshí`): A common mistake for learners is to equate `夜宵` with a snack. A “snack” in Chinese is 零食 (língshí), which refers to things like potato chips, cookies, or candy. `夜宵` is a full, hot meal, just smaller than dinner. You eat `零食` anytime, but you only eat `夜宵` late at night.
  • `夜宵` vs. “Dinner” (`晚饭 wǎnfàn`): The timing is the critical difference. 晚饭 (wǎnfàn) is dinner, eaten in the early evening (e.g., 6-8 PM). `夜宵` is a separate meal eaten much later (e.g., 10 PM - 2 AM), *after* dinner and other activities have concluded. You can eat both `晚饭` and `夜宵` on the same day.
  • Incorrect Usage Example:
    • “我下午四点吃了夜宵。” (Wǒ xiàwǔ sì diǎn chī le yèxiāo.)
    • Why it's wrong: This translates to “I ate a late-night meal at 4 PM.” This is a contradiction. The word `夜` (night) is integral to the meaning. A meal at 4 PM would be a snack (`零食`) or an early dinner (`晚饭`).

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `烧烤 (shāokǎo)` - Barbecue skewers. Arguably the most iconic `夜宵` food in China.
  • `大排档 (dàpáidàng)` - Open-air food stalls, often found on sidewalks, that are a classic setting for `夜宵`.
  • `外卖 (wàimài)` - Food delivery/takeout. A very popular way for people to enjoy `夜宵` at home.
  • `熬夜 (áoyè)` - To stay up late/pull an all-nighter. The activity that often necessitates or accompanies eating `夜宵`.
  • `热闹 (rènao)` - Lively, bustling. This word perfectly describes the ideal atmosphere of a `夜宵` gathering.
  • `啤酒 (píjiǔ)` - Beer. The most common alcoholic beverage consumed with `夜宵`.
  • `晚饭 (wǎnfàn)` - Dinner. The main evening meal, which `夜宵` follows.
  • `零食 (língshí)` - Snacks (chips, candy, etc.). Important to distinguish from the substantial meal of `夜宵`.
  • `麻辣烫 (málàtàng)` - Spicy hot pot. A popular, customizable soupy dish often eaten for `夜宵`.
  • `凌晨 (língchén)` - Before dawn, in the small hours of the morning (approx. 1 AM - 5 AM). The time when many `夜宵` sessions happen.