noun HSK 5
morning · dawn · early morning
Meaning
晨 refers to the early morning hours, typically from dawn until around 8 or 9 AM. It is a formal, literary term for morning, more elegant than the everyday 早上 (zǎoshang). You'll often see it in written Chinese, compound words, or poetic expressions.
Usage
晨 is commonly used in formal writing, literature, and set phrases rather than casual conversation. Native speakers use it in compounds like 晨练 (morning exercise) or 清晨 (early morning/dawn). For everyday speech, 早上 or 早晨 are more natural choices.
Examples
- 01清晨的空气特别清新。.The air in the early morning is especially fresh.
- 02爷爷每天晨练一小时。.Grandpa does morning exercise for an hour every day.
Common collocations
- 晨练morning exercise
- 晨光morning light
- 晨曦rays of morning sunlight
- 早晨early morning
Antonyms
Origin
The character 晨 combines 日 (sun) on top with 辰 (celestial body, time), depicting the sun rising at a specific time of day, representing the morning.