yèwǎn: 夜晚 - Night, Nighttime

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 夜晚 (yèwǎn), the Chinese word for “night” or “nighttime.” This guide explores its character origins, cultural significance in poetry and modern life, and practical differences from the more common word 晚上 (wǎnshang). With over 10 example sentences and clear analysis, you'll master how to describe the night in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yèwǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The period of time from sunset to sunrise; nighttime.
• In a Nutshell: 夜晚 (yèwǎn) is a common word for “night” that refers to the entire duration of darkness. It often carries a slightly more formal, descriptive, or literary feel compared to its casual counterpart, 晚上 (wǎnshang). Think of it as “nighttime” in English—it describes the whole period, often with a certain atmosphere or mood.

• 夜 (yè): This character means “night.” It contains the radical 夕 (xī), which means “dusk.” The character evokes the image of the world after sunset, entering the time of darkness.
• 晚 (wǎn): This character means “late” or “evening.” It is composed of the “sun” radical 日 (rì) on the left, indicating that it's related to the time of day. The character signifies the time when the sun is late or has disappeared.
• Together, 夜晚 (yèwǎn) literally translates to “night-evening,” forming a compound word that beautifully captures the concept of the entire nighttime period.

In Chinese culture, the 夜晚 (yèwǎn) is a powerful and evocative concept, holding dual significance. Traditionally, especially in classical poetry and literature, the 夜晚 is a time for quiet contemplation, melancholy, and homesickness. The quiet of the night, often illuminated only by the moon (月亮), was the perfect backdrop for scholars and poets like Li Bai (李白) to reflect on life, distance from loved ones, and the passage of time. The famous poem “Quiet Night Thought” (静夜思) perfectly captures this mood. In contrast, modern China has embraced a vibrant 夜生活 (yèshēnghuó), or “nightlife.” In bustling cities like Shanghai and Beijing, the 夜晚 is no longer just for rest; it's a time for socializing, entertainment, dining, and commerce. This creates a cultural tension between the tranquil, poetic night of the past and the dynamic, energetic night of the present. This is different from the typical Western concept of “night,” which can often carry connotations of danger or fear (“things that go bump in the night”). While those elements exist in Chinese culture, the 夜晚 is more strongly associated with either profound tranquility or, more recently, bustling social activity.

While 夜晚 (yèwǎn) is understood by everyone, its usage has specific nuances.

• Formal and Written Contexts: You are most likely to encounter 夜晚 in writing—literature, song lyrics, news articles, and weather forecasts. It adds a touch of formality or descriptive flair. For example, a weather report might say, “今晚到明天白天” (from tonight to tomorrow daytime), but a more descriptive report might describe “夜晚的最低气温” (the nighttime's lowest temperature).
• Spoken Language: In everyday, casual conversation, people are more likely to use 晚上 (wǎnshang) to refer to the evening or “tonight.” Using 夜晚 in a simple greeting would sound overly formal or poetic. You wouldn't say `夜晚好 (yèwǎn hǎo)` for “Good evening”; you must say `晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo)`.
• Describing Atmosphere: 夜晚 is perfect when you want to describe the quality or atmosphere of the night itself. For example, “一个安静的夜晚” (a quiet night) or “夏天的夜晚很舒服” (summer nights are very comfortable).

• Example 1:
  • 我喜欢夏天的夜晚，很凉快。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān xiàtiān de yèwǎn, hěn liángkuai.
  • English: I like summer nights, they are very cool and pleasant.
  • Analysis: A simple, common statement describing the quality of the night. This is a perfect use of 夜晚.
• Example 2:
  • 这个城市的夜晚比白天还热闹。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì de yèwǎn bǐ báitiān hái rènào.
  • English: This city's nighttime is even more bustling than its daytime.
  • Analysis: Used here to contrast the entire period of “nighttime” with “daytime” (白天).
• Example 3:
  • 在宁静的夜晚，我喜欢一个人看星星。
  • Pinyin: Zài níngjìng de yèwǎn, wǒ xǐhuān yīgè rén kàn xīngxīng.
  • English: On quiet nights, I like to look at the stars by myself.
  • Analysis: This sentence has a slightly more literary or reflective feel, making 夜晚 a very fitting choice.
• Example 4:
  • 他整个夜晚都在工作，没有睡觉。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhěnggè yèwǎn dōu zài gōngzuò, méiyǒu shuìjiào.
  • English: He worked the entire night without sleeping.
  • Analysis: Here, 夜晚 emphasizes the full duration of the night, from evening until morning.
• Example 5:
  • 暴风雨在夜晚来临了。
  • Pinyin: Bàofēngyǔ zài yèwǎn láilín le.
  • English: The storm arrived during the night.
  • Analysis: A common way to frame an event that happened during the nighttime hours.
• Example 6:
  • 乡下的夜晚能听到很多虫子的叫声。
  • Pinyin: Xiāngxià de yèwǎn néng tīngdào hěnduō chóngzi de jiào shēng.
  • English: In the countryside at night, you can hear the sounds of many insects.
  • Analysis: Describing the specific sensory experience of the nighttime.
• Example 7:
  • 警察在夜晚巡逻，保护大家的安全。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zài yèwǎn xúnluó, bǎohù dàjiā de ānquán.
  • English: The police patrol at night to protect everyone's safety.
  • Analysis: Used in a formal context to describe an activity that takes place during the night.
• Example 8:
  • 独自一人的夜晚，他感到有些孤独。
  • Pinyin: Dúzì yīrén de yèwǎn, tā gǎndào yǒuxiē gūdú.
  • English: On nights when he was all alone, he felt a bit lonely.
  • Analysis: 夜晚 is used to set a mood—in this case, one of loneliness.
• Example 9:
  • 每年中秋节的夜晚，月亮都特别圆。
  • Pinyin: Měinián Zhōngqiūjié de yèwǎn, yuèliàng dōu tèbié yuán.
  • English: On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival each year, the moon is especially round.
  • Analysis: Refers to the night of a specific, significant date.
• Example 10:
  • 天气预报说，今天夜晚有雨。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào shuō, jīntiān yèwǎn yǒu yǔ.
  • English: The weather forecast says there will be rain tonight.
  • Analysis: A typical example from a formal context like a weather report. Note that in casual speech, “今天晚上” would be more common.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 夜晚 (yèwǎn) and 晚上 (wǎnshang).

• 晚上 (wǎnshang): Refers to the evening, generally from after sunset (around 6 PM) to bedtime (around 11 PM). It's used for greetings and as the default word for “tonight.”
  • Greeting: `晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo)` - Good evening.
  • Time reference: `我们今天晚上去看电影。 (Wǒmen jīntiān wǎnshang qù kàn diànyǐng.)` - We are going to watch a movie tonight.
• 夜晚 (yèwǎn): Refers to the entire period of darkness, from dusk to dawn. It is more descriptive and less used for greetings or simple time references.

Common Mistake: Using 夜晚 for a greeting.

• Incorrect: `你好，夜晚好！`
• Why it's wrong: This sounds unnatural and overly poetic. Greetings are a fixed part of the language.
• Correct: `你好，晚上好！ (Nǐ hǎo, wǎnshang hǎo!)`

Common Mistake: Using 夜晚 when 晚上 is more natural for “tonight.”

• Unnatural: `你今天夜晚有空吗？(Nǐ jīntiān yèwǎn yǒu kòng ma?)`
• Why it's wrong: While grammatically correct, it's not how people typically speak. It sounds like a line from a book.
• Correct: `你今天晚上有空吗？(Nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang yǒu kòng ma?)` - Are you free tonight?

Think of it this way: use 晚上 (wǎnshang) when you would say “evening” or “tonight” in English. Use 夜晚 (yèwǎn) when you would say “nighttime” or want to describe the quality of the night itself.

• 晚上 (wǎnshang) - The most common word for “evening” or “tonight.” The casual counterpart to 夜晚.
• 白天 (báitiān) - “Daytime”; the direct antonym of 夜晚.
• 半夜 (bànyè) - “Midnight” or “the middle of the night.” A specific point within the 夜晚.
• 深夜 (shēnyè) - “Late night,” usually referring to the hours after midnight.
• 凌晨 (língchén) - “Before dawn” or “early morning” (approx. 1-5 AM). The final phase of the 夜晚.
• 夜里 (yèlǐ) - “At night” or “during the night.” Functionally very similar to 夜晚, but often used adverbially and is very common in speech.
• 熬夜 (áoyè) - “To stay up late” or “pull an all-nighter.” A common activity done during the 夜晚.
• 夜生活 (yèshēnghuó) - “Nightlife.” The set of entertainment and social activities available at night.
• 黄昏 (huánghūn) - “Dusk” or “twilight.” The period of time that immediately precedes the 夜晚.
• 夜宵 (yèxiāo) - “Late-night snack.” A meal eaten late in the 夜晚.