noun / time word HSK 4
Traditional 夜間
nighttime · during the night · at night
Meaning
夜间 refers to the period of time during the night, typically from sunset to sunrise. It's a formal or semi-formal time word commonly used in written Chinese, news reports, official announcements, and formal speech to specify that something happens during nighttime hours.
Usage
夜间 is more formal than the colloquial 晚上 (wǎnshang). It's frequently used in contexts like weather reports, traffic regulations, business hours, and official notices. Common in phrases like 夜间工作 (night shift work) or 夜间温度 (nighttime temperature). In casual conversation, people typically say 晚上.
Examples
- 01夜间气温会降到零度以下。.Nighttime temperatures will drop below zero degrees.
- 02医院提供二十四小时服务，包括夜间急诊。, .The hospital provides 24-hour service, including nighttime emergency care.
Characters
Common collocations
- 夜间行车night driving
- 夜间温度nighttime temperature
- 夜间工作night work, night shift
- 夜间施工nighttime construction
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 夜 (night) with 间 (interval/period), literally meaning 'the interval of night' or 'during the night period.'