三更

sāngēng
noun

Meanings

  1. 1 third night watch (about 11 pm to 1 am)
  2. 2 midnight; the dead of night

Examples

HSK 1
Dōu sāngēng le, nǐ zěnme hái bú shuì?
It's midnight already, why aren't you asleep?
HSK 3
Tā měi tiān dōu gōngzuò dào sāngēng cái shuì.
He works until midnight every day before going to bed.

Tips

culture
三更 is the middle of the five night watches (更) of old China, the deepest part of the night. The watches are gone, but the word lives on in 半夜三更 and 三更半夜, both 'in the dead of night'.
mistakes
更 is gēng here, the night watch, not gèng 'more'. Watchmen marked each watch by striking a clapper, which is 打更.

Stroke Order

三 sān
更 gèng