noun HSK 2
daytime · during the day
Meaning
白天 refers to the period of the day when the sun is up, from sunrise to sunset. It contrasts with nighttime (晚上 or 夜晚). The word literally means 'white sky' or 'bright sky,' reflecting the brightness of daylight hours.
Usage
白天 is used in everyday conversation to refer to daytime hours, often contrasted with night. It commonly appears in phrases like '白天工作，晚上学习' (work during the day, study at night). Unlike '白日' (more literary), 白天 is the standard colloquial term.
Examples
- 01我白天上班，晚上上课。, .I work during the day and take classes at night.
- 02这家餐厅白天不营业。.This restaurant isn't open during the day.
Characters
Common collocations
- 白天黑夜day and night
- 大白天broad daylight
- 在白天during the daytime
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 白 (white/bright) and 天 (sky/day) to describe the bright hours when the sky is illuminated by sunlight, in contrast to the darkness of night.