noun HSK 5
evening · sunset · dusk
Meaning
夕 refers to the evening time or dusk when the sun is setting. It is a classical and literary character rarely used alone in modern spoken Chinese, but appears frequently in compounds and poetic contexts to evoke the imagery of sunset or nightfall.
Usage
In modern Mandarin, 夕 is almost never used independently in everyday speech. It appears in set phrases like 七夕 (Qixi Festival), 除夕 (New Year's Eve), and 朝夕 (day and night). The standalone word for 'evening' in contemporary usage is 晚上 (wǎnshang).
Examples
- 01除夕夜全家人团聚在一起吃年夜饭。.On New Year's Eve, the whole family gathers together to eat the reunion dinner.
- 02七夕节是中国传统的情人节。.The Qixi Festival is China's traditional Valentine's Day.
Common collocations
- 除夕New Year's Eve
- 七夕Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day)
- 朝夕day and night; all the time
- 一夕one evening; overnight
Antonyms
Origin
The oracle bone script form of 夕 depicts a crescent moon appearing at dusk, symbolizing the transition from day to night. It is one of the oldest Chinese characters, dating back over 3000 years.