子夜

zǐyè

noun #25,165

Meanings

1 midnight
2 the dead of night

Characters

the first Earthly Branch (11 pm–1 am)

Examples

子夜时分，城市陷入寂静。

Zǐyè shífēn, chéngshì xiànrù jìjìng.

At midnight, the city fell into silence.

他习惯在子夜写作。

Tā xíguàn zài zǐyè xiězuò.

He is used to writing at midnight.

Tips

culture

子 (zǐ) refers to the first of the twelve Earthly Branches, corresponding to 11 pm–1 am. 子夜 literally means 'the hour of zǐ at night,' which is midnight in traditional Chinese timekeeping.

Stroke Order

子 zǐ

夜 yè