Definition
深夜 (shēn yè) refers to the deep, quiet part of the night, usually very late after midnight — 'the dead of night.' It differs from 凌晨 (líng chén), which emphasizes the very early morning hours (around 1–5 a.m.) and the transition toward dawn; the two time ranges overlap, so context decides. Compared with the general 夜晚 (yè wǎn) or 夜 (yè), 深夜 is more specific, highlighting lateness and stillness.
noun
very late at nightthe dead of night
Examples
- 深夜。Tā měitiān shēn yè cái huí jiā.He goes home very late every night.
- 深夜，。shēn yè de shíhou, jiē shàng jīhū méiyǒu xíngrén.During the dead of night, there are almost no pedestrians on the street.
- 深夜，。Tā xǐhuān zài shēn yè dúshū, yīnwèi hěn ānjìng.She likes to read very late at night because it's very quiet.
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