B2 noun Neutral 1 min read

深夜

shēn yè /ʂə́n jê/

Shenye refers to the deep, silent hours of the night, often carrying a mood of introspection or exhaustion.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Refers to the quiet, dark hours after midnight.
  • Often used to describe a reflective or lonely atmosphere.
  • Commonly associated with late-night work or study.

用法模式:该词常作为时间状语使用,如“在深夜”、“深夜里”。它也可以作主语或宾语,例如“深夜是灵感迸发的时刻”或“他熬到了深夜”。在表达程度时,常与“寂静”、“寒冷”、“漫长”等词搭配,增强氛围感。

  1. 1常见语境:在文学作品中,深夜常被赋予忧郁或神秘的色彩。在现代生活中,它常指代加班、学习或失眠的时间,例如“深夜食堂”这个词就代表了城市中为夜归人提供温暖的场所。此外,它也常用于新闻报道,描述事故或突发事件发生的时间。

Examples

1

他在深夜里独自思考人生。

everyday

He thought about life alone in the dead of night.

2

深夜的街道非常安静。

formal

The streets are very quiet late at night.

Common Collocations

深夜时分 at the hour of deep night
熬到深夜 stay up until late at night
深夜食堂 midnight diner

Common Phrases

夜深人静

the dead of night when all is quiet

Often Confused With

深夜 vs 半夜

Refers more specifically to around midnight, whereas '深夜' is a broader period of the night.

Grammar Patterns

在深夜 深夜里 到深夜

How to Use It

Usage Notes

Shenye is a versatile noun used in both casual and literary contexts. It is more descriptive than 'midnight' and carries a sense of silence or isolation. Avoid using it for daytime or early evening hours.


Common Mistakes

Beginners sometimes confuse it with 'late' (晚). Remember '深夜' is a noun representing the time period, not an adjective describing an action.

Tips

💡

Use with emotional adjectives

Pair '深夜' with adjectives like '寂静' (silent) or '漫长' (long) to evoke a stronger sense of atmosphere.

⚠️

Avoid literal time calculation

Don't treat '深夜' as a precise clock time; it is a subjective duration of the night.

🌍

Cultural significance of late-night food

The term '深夜食堂' (Midnight Diner) is a cultural phenomenon representing comfort and solace for city dwellers.

Word Origin

Derived from '深' (deep/late) and '夜' (night), signifying the depth of the night when it is darkest and quietest.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, the deep night is often associated with scholars studying or poets writing, reflecting the value placed on quiet reflection.

Memory Tip

Imagine the moon high in the sky and everything is silent; that deep, dark time is '深夜'.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

半夜通常指午夜左右的时刻,强调具体的时间点。而深夜范围更广,侧重于深夜那种寂静、深沉的氛围感。

深夜主要作为名词使用。如果想表达形容词含义,通常会说“深夜的”,例如“深夜的街道”。

是的,它常带有孤独、平静或忧郁的色彩,文学性较强。

通常对应 deep night 或 late at night,取决于语境。

Test Yourself

fill blank

他在___还在书桌前奋笔疾书,准备明天的考试。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 深夜

根据语境,熬夜学习通常发生在深夜。

Score: /1

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