noun / verb HSK 4
sunrise · the sun rises
Meaning
日出 literally means 'sun comes out' and refers to the daily phenomenon of the sun rising above the horizon at dawn. It can function as a noun (the sunrise itself) or as a verb phrase (the sun rises). This word carries poetic and natural imagery in Chinese literature and everyday speech.
Usage
Native speakers use 日出 to describe both the event and the time of sunrise. It's common in weather reports, travel descriptions, and poetic contexts. Often paired with time expressions like 日出时 (at sunrise) or used to describe beautiful natural scenes. More formal/literary than casual speech about morning.
Examples
- 01我们明天早上五点去山顶看日出。.We're going to the mountain peak at 5 AM tomorrow to watch the sunrise.
- 02日出东方，阳光洒满大地。, .The sun rises in the east, and sunlight spreads across the earth.
Characters
Common collocations
- 看日出to watch the sunrise
- 日出时分at sunrise
- 日出东方the sun rises in the east
- 日出而作work from sunrise (traditional saying)
Antonyms
Origin
Combines 日 (sun) with 出 (to emerge/exit), creating a transparent compound that literally depicts the sun emerging from below the horizon.