子夜

zǐyè

noun #25,165

Meanings

1 midnight
2 the dead of night

Characters

the first Earthly Branch (11 pm-1 am)

Examples

HSK 3

他习惯在子夜写作。

Tā xíguàn zài zǐyè xiězuò.

He is used to writing at midnight.

HSK 7-9

子夜时分，城市陷入寂静。

Zǐyè shífēn, chéngshì xiànrù jìjìng.

At midnight, the city fell into silence.

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