今夕是何年

jīnxīshìhénián

phrase

Meanings

1 what year is this tonight?
2 a wondering, dreamlike question to the heavens
3 lit. this-night is what-year

Characters

Examples

仰望星空，他忽然有种不知今夕是何年的感觉。

Yǎngwàng xīngkōng, tā hūrán yǒu zhǒng bùzhī jīn xī shì hé nián de gǎnjué.

Gazing up at the starry sky, he suddenly had the feeling of "not knowing what year this night is".

穿越剧里常出现今夕是何年的桥段。

Chuānyuè jù lǐ cháng chūxiàn jīn xī shì hé nián de qiáoduàn.

Time-travel dramas often include the moment of "what year is it tonight?".

Tips

history

From Su Shi's (苏轼, Northern Song) 《水调歌头·明月几时有》: 明月几时有？把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年 — 'When did the bright moon first appear? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky. I do not know: in those heavenly palaces, what year is this night?' From the same ci that gave us 人有悲欢离合.

usage

Frequently invoked in modern Chinese in reunion speeches, Mid-Autumn festival posts, or whenever a scene feels dreamlike and out of time.

Stroke Order

今 jīn

夕 xī

是 shì

何 hé

年 nián