Definition
夜 (yè) is a more formal, literary word for 'night' than the everyday 晚上 (wǎnshang). It's used in compounds (夜晚, 夜间) and fixed expressions (三天两夜), and can also serve as a measure word for counting nights. 晚上 is the default word for 'evening/night' in conversation.
noun
night (noun)
measure word
night (unit used for counting nights)
Easily confused
- 依yīlook-alike(verb) to rely on, to depend on
- 也yěsound-alikealso, too
- 位wèilook-alike(classifier, polite) for people
- 页yèsound-alike(classifier) for pages (of a book, document, paper)
- 野yěsound-alikewild (of plants, animals, nature); uncultivated
- 业yèsound-alike(suffix) industry, line of business (in 行业, 产业, 企业)
Examples
- ，。Zuótiān wǒ gōngzuò dào hěn wǎn, yè lǐ méi shuì hǎo.I worked late yesterday and didn't sleep well at night.
- 夜。Wǒmen wán le sān tiān liǎng yè.We played for three days and two nights.
- ，。Wǎnshang sànbù hěn shūfu, yè lǐ de fēng hěn liáng.Walking in the evening is comfortable; the night breeze is cool.
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