Meaning
宵 refers to the nighttime, particularly the evening and night hours. It is a somewhat literary or formal character often found in classical Chinese and formal expressions. While less common in everyday speech than 晚上 (wǎnshang), it appears in many set phrases and idioms.
Usage
宵 is rarely used alone in modern spoken Mandarin. Native speakers encounter it primarily in fixed expressions like 元宵 (Lantern Festival), 通宵 (all night long), 宵夜 (late-night snack), and the chengyu 灯红酒绿 describing nightlife. In casual conversation, people prefer 晚上 or 夜里 for 'night.'
Examples
- 01他们通宵达旦地工作，终于完成了项目。, .They worked all night until dawn and finally completed the project.
- 02元宵节那天，全家人一起吃汤圆。, .On Lantern Festival day, the whole family eats tangyuan together.
Common collocations
- 元宵节Lantern Festival
- 通宵all night, throughout the night
- 宵夜late-night snack, supper
- 春宵spring night
Antonyms
Origin
The character 宵 consists of the roof radical 宀 (mián) above 肖 (xiào), which provides the phonetic component. The roof suggests being indoors during the night hours, emphasizing the domestic or settled aspect of nighttime.