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A2 noun #1,500 最常用 8分钟阅读

夜里

yeli 前1,500

At the A1 level, learning the word 夜里 (yèlǐ) is an essential step in mastering basic time expressions in Chinese. As a beginner, you are primarily focused on describing simple daily routines, stating when actions happen, and understanding basic questions. You will use this word to talk about sleeping, resting, or basic nighttime conditions like 'it is dark' or 'it is cold'. The most important grammatical rule to remember at this stage is that time words must come before the verb. You cannot say 'I sleep at night' using the English word order. Instead, you must say 'I at night sleep' (我夜里睡觉). This fundamental rule of Chinese syntax is crucial to practice early on. You will also learn to distinguish it from 早上 (morning) and 下午 (afternoon). By mastering this simple noun, you can significantly expand your ability to describe your day and understand basic schedules or stories told by native speakers.

At the A2 level, your use of 夜里 becomes more detailed and contextual. You are no longer just stating simple facts; you are beginning to recount past events and describe weather or ongoing situations. You will frequently combine it with words like 昨天 (yesterday) to say 昨天夜里 (last night) or 今天 (today) to say 今天夜里 (tonight). This allows you to tell simple stories, such as 'It rained last night' (昨天夜里下雨了) or 'I woke up in the night' (我夜里醒了). You will also start to understand the subtle difference between 晚上 (evening, usually for dinner or watching TV) and 夜里 (late night, usually when people are asleep). This distinction is vital for accurate communication. Furthermore, you will encounter this word in simple reading passages, such as weather forecasts or short diary entries, making it a key vocabulary item for passing A2 level proficiency tests.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 夜里 with greater fluency and in more complex sentence structures. You will use it to discuss habits, work schedules, and unexpected occurrences. For example, you might explain that someone works the night shift (他夜里上班) or describe a symptom to a doctor (我夜里经常咳嗽 - I often cough at night). You will also start using it with prepositions and modifiers, such as 在夜里 (in the night) or 夜里的风 (the night wind), showing a deeper grasp of Chinese grammar. At this stage, you are comfortable with the nuances of time and can easily switch between 晚上, 夜里, and 半夜 depending on the exact context. Your listening skills will also improve, allowing you to catch this word in natural, fast-paced conversations, news reports, and Chinese television dramas where nighttime scenes are described.

At the B2 level, your comprehension and usage of 夜里 extend into abstract, descriptive, and slightly more literary contexts. You are able to use it to set the mood or atmosphere in your writing or speaking. Instead of just stating facts, you might say '夜里静悄悄的' (It was completely quiet at night) to build a narrative. You will understand idiomatic or cultural references related to the night, such as the concept of 宵夜 (midnight snacks) and the vibrant nightlife in Chinese cities. You will also encounter formal equivalents like 夜间 in written texts and be able to seamlessly understand the transition between spoken and written registers. Your ability to use time words as adjectives (e.g., 夜里的航班 - overnight flights) will be natural and accurate, demonstrating a high level of functional fluency in both professional and social settings.

At the C1 level, your engagement with the word 夜里 involves an appreciation of its literary, poetic, and nuanced applications. You will encounter it in modern Chinese literature, essays, and advanced journalistic writing. At this level, you understand how authors use the concept of 'the night' to convey themes of solitude, reflection, or hidden truths. You might use phrases like '漫长的夜里' (in the long night) metaphorically. You are also fully capable of distinguishing it from highly specific synonyms like 深夜 (deep night) or 凌晨 (early hours before dawn) and choosing the exact right word for stylistic effect. Your spoken Chinese will reflect a native-like intuition for rhythm and phrasing, placing the time word naturally within complex, multi-clause sentences without hesitation. You can discuss complex topics, such as nocturnal ecosystems or the psychological effects of night shifts, using precise vocabulary.

At the C2 level, you possess a complete, native-like mastery of the word 夜里 and all its associated concepts, idioms, and cultural weight. You can effortlessly navigate classical references, poetry, and philosophical discussions involving the night. You understand the etymological roots of the characters and how they interact with other morphemes to create new meanings. Your use of the word is flawless across all registers, from the most casual street slang to the most elevated academic discourse. You can play with the word order for rhetorical effect, knowing exactly when a slight deviation from standard grammar serves a poetic purpose. At this pinnacle of proficiency, the word is not just a vocabulary item to be translated, but a concept deeply integrated into your Chinese linguistic identity, allowing you to express the most profound and subtle thoughts regarding time, darkness, and human experience.

开始练习例句笔记与提示

夜里 30秒了解

Means 'at night' or 'nighttime'.
Placed before the verb in sentences.
Later and darker than 晚上 (evening).
Used for sleep, weather, and late events.

The Chinese word 夜里 (yèlǐ) is a highly common noun used to describe the time period of the night, typically referring to the late hours of the evening or the middle of the night when it is completely dark. Understanding how to use this word is essential for mastering daily Chinese communication, as it frequently appears in contexts ranging from weather reports to personal routines. Unlike the word 晚上 (wǎnshang), which generally refers to the evening from around 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, 夜里 specifically points to the deeper, later parts of the night, often from 11:00 PM until the early hours of the morning before dawn. This distinction is crucial for learners to grasp, as using the wrong term can lead to confusion about the exact time an event occurred. For instance, if you say you watched a movie 晚上, people assume it was a normal evening activity. If you say you watched it 夜里, they might think you are a night owl or suffered from insomnia. The character 夜 (yè) means night or dark, and 里 (lǐ) means inside or within. Together, they literally translate to 'inside the night' or 'during the night'. This spatial metaphor for time is a common feature in Chinese grammar. When using 夜里, it functions as a time word, which means it must follow the strict Chinese word order rules: time words are placed either at the very beginning of the sentence or immediately after the subject, but never at the end of the sentence as is common in English. You will often hear this word in daily life when people are discussing sleep habits, nighttime weather, or unexpected events that happen while everyone is asleep.

Time Placement: Time words like 夜里 must go before the verb.

Nuance: Implies late night, usually after people have gone to sleep.

Structure: Can be used with 昨天 (yesterday) or 今天 (today) to specify which night.

我夜里醒了好几次。

昨天夜里下雨了。

他夜里还在工作。

夜里很冷，多穿点。

孩子夜里突然哭了。

Using 夜里 correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of Chinese syntax, specifically the placement of time phrases. In English, we often say 'I sleep at night', placing the time at the very end. In Chinese, time is treated as the setting of the stage before the action occurs. Therefore, you must say 'I at night sleep' (我夜里睡觉). The formula is Subject + Time + Verb + Object, or Time + Subject + Verb + Object. Both '我夜里看书' and '夜里我看书' are grammatically correct and widely used. When you want to specify which night, you add the day before the word. For example, 'last night' is 昨天夜里 (zuótiān yèlǐ), 'tonight' is 今天夜里 (jīntiān yèlǐ), and 'tomorrow night' is 明天夜里 (míngtiān yèlǐ). It is also very common to use this word to describe states or conditions that occur during the nighttime hours. For example, 'It is very quiet at night' translates to 夜里很安静 (yèlǐ hěn ānjìng). Notice how the time word sets the context for the adjective. Furthermore, 夜里 is frequently paired with verbs related to sleep, waking up, working late, or sudden events like weather changes. If someone is sick, a doctor might ask 'Did you cough at night?' (你夜里咳嗽了吗？). If you are reading a news report, it might state that an accident happened late at night (事故发生在夜里). Mastering this word will significantly improve your ability to tell stories, recount past events, and describe your daily routines in a natural, native-sounding way. Practice moving the time word to the front of your thoughts when speaking Chinese, and you will find that using words like this becomes second nature.

Subject First: Subject + 夜里 + Verb (我夜里喝水)

Time First: 夜里 + Subject + Verb (夜里我喝水)

With Days: 昨天/今天/明天 + 夜里 (昨天夜里)

狗在夜里叫个不停。

不要在夜里一个人出门。

这家店夜里不开门。

我喜欢在夜里听音乐。

昨天夜里停电了。

You will encounter the word 夜里 in a wide variety of contexts in Chinese-speaking environments. One of the most common places is in daily conversations about health and sleep. If you look tired, a colleague might ask, '你夜里没睡好吗？' (Did you not sleep well at night?). Parents frequently use it when talking about their babies: '宝宝夜里醒了三次' (The baby woke up three times in the night). Another very common context is weather forecasting. Meteorologists and news anchors will often say '今天夜里到明天白天有大雨' (There will be heavy rain from tonight through tomorrow daytime). It is also heavily used in storytelling, literature, and news reporting to set the scene for events that occur under the cover of darkness. For example, a news report about a burglary might state that the crime took place '昨天夜里' (last night). In urban environments, you might hear it when discussing nightlife or late-night food. China has a vibrant midnight snack culture called 宵夜 (xiāoyè), and people might say '我们夜里去吃烧烤吧' (Let's go eat BBQ late at night). Furthermore, it is used in warnings or advice, such as '夜里开车要小心' (Be careful driving at night). Because it specifically denotes the later, darker hours, it carries a subtle connotation of quietness, secrecy, or rest, making it a powerful word for setting a mood. Whether you are watching a Chinese drama, listening to a podcast, or chatting with a friend on WeChat, this word is an indispensable part of the vocabulary that native speakers use to navigate and describe their daily lives.

Weather: Used to predict overnight conditions (今天夜里有雨).

Health: Discussing sleep quality or nocturnal symptoms.

News: Reporting incidents that happened during the dark hours.

天气预报说夜里会降温。

他经常在夜里加班到很晚。

这趟火车是夜里到达的。

我们在夜里迷路了。

小偷是夜里进来的。

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning the word 夜里 is placing it at the wrong position in the sentence. Because English allows us to say 'I study at night', beginners often translate this directly as '我学习夜里' (Wǒ xuéxí yèlǐ). This sounds completely unnatural and incorrect to a native Chinese speaker. The time must always come before the verb, so the correct sentence is '我夜里学习' (Wǒ yèlǐ xuéxí). Another common error is confusing 夜里 with 晚上 (wǎnshang). While both translate to 'night' or 'evening' in English, their usage in Chinese depends on the specific time. If you invite someone to dinner at 7:00 PM, you must use 晚上 (晚上我们去吃饭). If you use 夜里 (夜里我们去吃饭), it implies you are going out for a midnight snack at 1:00 AM. Using the wrong word can lead to humorous misunderstandings. Additionally, learners sometimes try to use 夜里 as an adjective directly modifying a noun without the particle 的 (de). For example, saying '夜里风' instead of the correct '夜里的风' (the night wind). Remember that when a time word modifies a noun, it usually requires 的 to connect them. Lastly, be careful not to confuse it with 半夜 (bànyè), which specifically means 'midnight' or the exact middle of the night. While they overlap, 夜里 is a broader term covering the whole late-night period. By paying attention to word order and the specific timeframes these words represent, you can avoid these common pitfalls and speak much more naturally.

Word Order Error: Wrong: 我看书夜里。 Right: 我夜里看书。

Wrong Timeframe: Using it for 7 PM dinner instead of 晚上.

Missing Particle: Forgetting 的 when modifying nouns (夜里的声音).

我夜里睡得很好。（Not: 我睡得很好夜里）

他夜里出去了。（Not: 他出去了夜里）

夜里的星空很美。（Requires 的）

我们夜里不喝咖啡。

昨天夜里风很大。

The Chinese language has a rich vocabulary for describing different parts of the day, and 夜里 has several synonyms and related terms that are used in varying contexts. The most common alternative is 晚上 (wǎnshang), which means evening or night. As discussed, 晚上 is earlier (6 PM to 10 PM), while 夜里 is later. Another very formal alternative is 夜间 (yèjiān). This is often used in official contexts, written notices, or formal news broadcasts. For example, a sign might say '夜间禁止停车' (No parking at night). If you want to specifically say 'midnight' or the middle of the night, you should use 半夜 (bànyè) or 午夜 (wǔyè). 半夜 is common in spoken Chinese (e.g., 半夜三更 - late at night), while 午夜 is slightly more literary or formal, often used in movie titles or poetry. Another beautiful word is 深夜 (shēnyè), which translates to 'deep night' or 'late at night'. It carries a poetic, quiet, and sometimes lonely connotation, perfect for writing or expressing deep feelings. For example, '深夜食堂' (Midnight Diner) is a famous show title. Finally, 黑夜 (hēiyè) focuses on the darkness of the night rather than just the time, often contrasted with 白天 (daytime). By understanding these nuances, you can choose the exact word that fits the mood, formality, and specific timeframe you wish to convey, elevating your Chinese from basic to highly expressive.

晚上 (wǎnshang): Evening (earlier than 夜里, usually 6 PM - 10 PM).

夜间 (yèjiān): Formal/written equivalent of at night.

半夜 (bànyè): Midnight or middle of the night.

我晚上看电视，夜里睡觉。

夜间行车请开灯。

他半夜突然醒了。

深夜的街道空无一人。

漫长的黑夜终于过去了。

How Formal Is It?

正式

"夜间气温将降至零下。"

中性

"昨天夜里下雨了。"

非正式

"大夜里的，你吵什么？"

Child friendly

"宝宝夜里要乖乖睡觉哦。"

俚语

"半夜三更的。"

趣味小知识

In ancient China, the night was divided into five 'watches' (更 - gēng), starting from 7 PM to 5 AM. When people say 半夜三更 (the third watch of the night), they are referring to the time between 11 PM and 1 AM, which perfectly aligns with the modern usage of 夜里.

发音指南

UK /jɛ lɪ/

US /jɛ lɪ/

The stress is entirely on the first character 夜 (yè). The second character 里 (li) is spoken softly and quickly as a neutral tone.

押韵词

家里 (jiālǐ) 这里 (zhèlǐ) 那里 (nàlǐ) 水里 (shuǐlǐ) 风里 (fēnglǐ) 梦里 (mènglǐ) 眼里 (yǎnlǐ) 手里 (shǒulǐ)

常见错误

Pronouncing 'li' with a full third tone instead of a neutral tone.
Making the 'e' in 'ye' sound like the 'ay' in 'say' instead of the 'e' in 'pet'.
Failing to drop the pitch sharply enough on the 4th tone of 夜.
Adding an English 'r' sound to the end of 'li'.
Pronouncing 'y' as an English 'j' sound.

难度评级

阅读 2/5

The character 夜 is common but has many strokes. 里 is very basic.

写作 3/5

Writing 夜 requires remembering its specific stroke order and components.

口语 1/5

Very easy to pronounce, just remember the neutral tone on 里.

听力 1/5

Distinctive sound, easy to catch in conversation.

接下来学什么

前置知识

天 (day) 黑 (dark) 睡觉 (sleep) 里 (inside) 昨天 (yesterday)

接下来学习

晚上 (evening) 半夜 (midnight) 白天 (daytime) 熬夜 (stay up late) 夜市 (night market)

高级

夜间 (nighttime - formal) 深夜 (deep night) 凌晨 (early morning before dawn) 宵夜 (midnight snack) 夜以继日 (day and night idiom)

需要掌握的语法

Time Word Placement

Time words must go before the verb. (我夜里看书, not 我看书夜里)

Time Word as Topic

Time words can be placed at the very beginning of the sentence for emphasis. (夜里，外面很安静)

Modifying Nouns with 的

When a time word modifies a noun, use 的. (夜里的风很冷)

Specific to General Time Order

In Chinese, larger time units come before smaller ones. (昨天夜里 - Yesterday night)

Omission of Prepositions

Unlike English 'in the night', Chinese often omits the preposition 在 before time words. (我夜里醒了 is more common than 我在夜里醒了)

按水平分级的例句

我夜里睡觉。

I sleep at night.

Time word before the verb.

夜里很黑。

It is very dark at night.

Noun + Adjective structure.

他夜里不喝水。

He does not drink water at night.

Negative marker 不 before the verb.

夜里很冷。

It is cold at night.

Adverb 很 modifying cold.

我夜里看书。

I read books at night.

Basic S+T+V+O structure.

你夜里睡觉吗？

Do you sleep at night?

Yes/No question with 吗.

夜里没有太阳。

There is no sun at night.

Use of 没有 for non-existence.

猫夜里不睡觉。

Cats do not sleep at night.

Animal subject with time word.

昨天夜里下雨了。

It rained last night.

Use of 了 for completed action.

我夜里醒了两次。

I woke up twice in the night.

Number of times after the verb.

今天夜里有大风。

There will be strong winds tonight.

Use of 有 to indicate existence.

他夜里去医院了。

He went to the hospital in the night.

Directional verb 去 with location.

夜里不要大声说话。

Do not speak loudly at night.

Imperative with 不要.

昨天夜里很安静。

It was very quiet last night.

Descriptive sentence past context.

狗在夜里叫。

The dog barks at night.

Use of 在 to indicate location/time.

你昨天夜里去哪儿了？

Where did you go last night?

Question word 哪儿.

他经常在夜里加班到很晚。

He often works overtime late into the night.

Adverb 经常 and complement 到很晚.

夜里开车一定要注意安全。

You must pay attention to safety when driving at night.

Use of 一定要 for strong advice.

我习惯了夜里工作，白天睡觉。

I am used to working at night and sleeping during the day.

Pattern 习惯了 (used to).

昨天夜里突然停电了，屋里一片漆黑。

The power suddenly went out last night, and the room was pitch black.

Adverb 突然 and descriptive phrase.

孩子夜里发烧，我们赶紧去了急诊。

The child had a fever in the night, so we hurried to the emergency room.

Cause and effect sequence.

夜里的风吹得树叶沙沙作响。

The night wind blew the leaves, making a rustling sound.

Use of 的 to modify noun, and 得 for degree.

这家便利店是24小时营业的，夜里也开门。

This convenience store is open 24 hours; it is open at night too.

Use of 也 for inclusion.

如果你夜里睡不着，可以喝杯热牛奶。

If you can't sleep at night, you can drink a cup of hot milk.

Conditional 如果...可以.

城市的夜里总是充满着各种喧嚣和霓虹灯。

The city at night is always full of various noises and neon lights.

Use of 充满着 (filled with).

他喜欢在夜深人静的夜里独自思考问题。

He likes to think about problems alone in the dead of night.

Idiom 夜深人静 modifying 夜里.

昨天夜里发生了一起严重的交通事故。

A serious traffic accident occurred last night.

Formal event reporting structure.

夜里的气温骤降，导致路面结冰。

The temperature dropped sharply at night, causing the road surface to freeze.

Vocabulary 骤降 and 导致.

为了赶项目进度，整个团队都在夜里奋战。

In order to catch up with the project schedule, the whole team fought hard through the night.

Purpose clause 为了...

夜里的航班通常比白天的便宜很多。

Nighttime flights are usually much cheaper than daytime ones.

Comparison structure 比...便宜.

那只流浪猫总是在夜里悄悄地寻找食物。

That stray cat always quietly looks for food at night.

Adverbial modifier 悄悄地.

夜里传来的警笛声打破了小镇的宁静。

The sound of sirens coming in the night broke the tranquility of the small town.

Complex subject with 传来的.

在漫长而寒冷的夜里，他唯有依靠回忆来取暖。

In the long and cold night, he could only rely on memories to keep warm.

Literary phrasing and metaphor.

夜里的海浪声仿佛是大自然最深沉的叹息。

The sound of the ocean waves at night seems like nature's deepest sigh.

Simile using 仿佛是.

这座古城在夜里褪去了白日的浮华，显露出历史的沧桑。

The ancient city strips away its daytime vanity at night, revealing the vicissitudes of history.

Advanced vocabulary 褪去, 浮华, 沧桑.

他常常在夜里辗转反侧，思考着人生的意义。

He often tosses and turns at night, pondering the meaning of life.

Idiom 辗转反侧.

夜里潜伏的危机往往比白天更加难以防范。

Crises lurking in the night are often harder to guard against than those in the day.

Complex comparative sentence.

那首老歌在夜里听起来，别有一番凄美的意境。

Listening to that old song at night has a uniquely poignant and beautiful mood.

Phrase 别有一番...意境.

夜里的巡逻工作不仅辛苦，还伴随着未知的风险。

Patrol work at night is not only exhausting but also accompanied by unknown risks.

Structure 不仅...还...

只有在夜里，他才能卸下伪装，做回真实的自己。

Only at night can he take off his disguise and be his true self.

Condition 只有...才...

历史的真相往往被掩盖在漫长无边的夜里，等待后人去发掘。

The truth of history is often covered in the boundless long night, waiting for future generations to unearth.

Philosophical metaphor.

夜里，万籁俱寂，正是灵魂与宇宙进行无声对话的绝佳契机。

At night, when all is completely silent, it is the perfect opportunity for the soul to have a silent dialogue with the universe.

Idiom 万籁俱寂 and advanced phrasing.

资本市场的剧烈动荡往往在夜里悄然酝酿，于黎明时分爆发。

The violent turbulence of the capital market is often quietly brewing in the night and erupts at dawn.

Abstract concepts and formal vocabulary.

他将自己所有的悲痛都揉碎在夜里，绝不向世人展露分毫。

He crushed all his grief into the night, absolutely refusing to show a single trace to the world.

Poetic verb usage 揉碎.

夜里的荒野透着一股原始的野性，让人敬畏自然的力量。

The wilderness at night exudes a primitive wildness, making one revere the power of nature.

Descriptive nuance 透着一股...

在这风雨交加的夜里，任何微小的光芒都显得弥足珍贵。

In this night of wind and rain, any tiny glimmer of light appears extremely precious.

Idioms 风雨交加 and 弥足珍贵.

夜里潜藏的不仅是黑暗，更是孕育光明的母体。

What is hidden in the night is not only darkness, but also the matrix that breeds light.

Philosophical duality.

他那深邃的目光，犹如夜里最亮的星，指引着前行的方向。

His profound gaze, like the brightest star in the night, guides the direction forward.

Advanced simile 犹如.

常见搭配

昨天夜里

今天夜里

夜里醒来

夜里加班

夜里的风

半夜里

夜里睡觉

夜里很静

夜里出门

夜里发烧

常用短语

夜里睡不着

夜里起来

夜里凉

大夜里

夜里做梦

夜里开车

夜里下雪

夜里工作

夜里安静

夜里哭闹

容易混淆的词

夜里 vs 晚上

晚上 is the evening (6 PM - 10 PM), when people are awake and active. 夜里 is late night (11 PM onwards), when people are usually sleeping.

夜里 vs 半夜

半夜 specifically means midnight or the exact middle of the night. 夜里 is a broader term for the whole late-night period.

夜里 vs 黑夜

黑夜 emphasizes the darkness of the night, contrasting with daylight. 夜里 is purely a time reference.

习语与表达

"夜深人静"

Deep in the night when all is quiet. Used to describe the dead of night.

夜深人静的时候，我喜欢看书。

Written/Formal

"日日夜夜"

Day and night; constantly.

他日日夜夜都在思念家乡。

Neutral

"黑更半夜"

Late at night; pitch dark. Very colloquial.

黑更半夜的，谁在外面？

Informal/Spoken

"熬更守夜"

To stay up late at night enduring hardship.

为了考试，他熬更守夜地复习。

Formal

"夜以继日"

Day and night; continuously without stopping.

工人们夜以继日地抢修大桥。

Formal

"起早贪黑"

To get up early and go to bed late; to work hard.

父母起早贪黑地工作供我上学。

Neutral

"昼夜不停"

Without stopping day or night.

机器昼夜不停地运转。

Neutral

"半夜三更"

Late at night; ungodly hour.

你半夜三更打电话干什么？

Informal

"夜长梦多"

A long night brings many dreams; undue delay may bring trouble.

这件事必须马上解决，以免夜长梦多。

Idiomatic

"风雨之夜"

A stormy night.

在一个风雨之夜，他离开了家。

Literary

容易混淆

夜里 vs 晚上

Both translate to 'night' in English.

晚上 is early night/evening. 夜里 is late night. You eat dinner 晚上, you sleep 夜里.

晚上我看电视，夜里我睡觉。

夜里 vs 夜间

Both mean 'at night'.

夜间 is formal and used in writing or official broadcasts. 夜里 is used in everyday speech.

夜间行车请注意。(Formal sign)

夜里 vs 半夜

Both refer to late times.

半夜 means midnight specifically. 夜里 is the general late-night period.

他半夜十二点才回家。

夜里 vs 夜晚

Both mean night.

夜晚 is a general, slightly literary noun for 'the night'. 夜里 is specifically used as a time adverb 'at night'.

这是一个美丽的夜晚。

夜里 vs 白天

Opposite concept, sometimes confused by beginners.

白天 means daytime. 夜里 means nighttime.

猫白天睡觉，夜里活动。

句型

Subject + 夜里 + Verb

我夜里睡觉。

夜里 + Adjective

夜里很冷。

昨天/今天 + 夜里 + Verb + 了

昨天夜里下雨了。

Subject + 夜里 + 不 + Verb

他夜里不喝咖啡。

Subject + 经常/总是 + 在夜里 + Verb

他经常在夜里加班。

夜里的 + Noun + 很 + Adjective

夜里的风很大。

为了 + Reason, Subject + 夜里 + Verb

为了考试，他夜里还在学习。

在 + Adjective + 的夜里，Subject + Verb

在漫长而寒冷的夜里，他独自散步。

词族

名词

动词

形容词

如何使用

frequency

Very High (Top 1000 words)

常见错误

我睡觉夜里。 → 我夜里睡觉。
In English, time can go at the end of the sentence. In Chinese, time must go before the verb.
晚上十二点。 → 夜里十二点 / 半夜十二点。
晚上 usually only goes up to about 10 PM or 11 PM. For midnight, use 夜里 or 半夜.
夜里风很大。 (When meaning 'the night wind is strong') → 夜里的风很大。
When using a time word to modify a noun (wind), you must use the structural particle 的.
我在一个夜里看到了他。 → 在一个夜晚看到了他。
夜里 is an adverbial time word, not a countable noun. You cannot use measure words like 一个 with it.
夜里行车请注意。 (On an official sign) → 夜间行车请注意。
While grammatically correct, official signs and formal written warnings use the formal word 夜间, not the spoken word 夜里.

小贴士

Time First

Always remember the golden rule of Chinese grammar: Time words go before the action. Subject + Time + Verb.

Evening vs. Late Night

Use 晚上 for dinner time and evening activities. Reserve 夜里 for when it's very late and dark.

Neutral Tone

Don't stress the 'li'. Let your voice drop sharply on 'ye' and just tap the 'li' lightly.

Weather Reports

Pay attention to weather forecasts. They use 昨天夜里 and 今天夜里 constantly. It's great listening practice.

Using 的

If you want to say 'nighttime [noun]', always link them with 的. 夜里的星空 (the night sky).

Sleep Talk

夜里 is the perfect word to use when talking about sleep problems, like waking up (夜里醒来) or insomnia.

Midnight Snacks

If someone invites you out 夜里, they probably mean going for 宵夜 (midnight snacks), a popular Chinese activity.

Setting the Scene

Use 夜里 at the beginning of a sentence to set a moody or quiet scene in your writing. (夜里，外面很冷。)

Don't Count It

Never say '三个夜里' (three nights). Use '三个夜晚' or '三天' instead.

Formal Upgrade

If you are taking an advanced test (HSK 5/6) and writing a formal essay, swap 夜里 for 夜间 or 深夜.

记住它

记忆技巧

Imagine a person named YEAH (夜) LEE (里). Yeah Lee is a vampire who only comes out AT NIGHT. When you think of nighttime, think of Yeah Lee waking up.

视觉联想

Picture a dark window with a crescent moon. Inside the room (里), it is completely dark because it is night (夜).

Word Web

夜里睡觉 (sleep) 做梦 (dream) 黑 (dark) 安静 (quiet) 月亮 (moon) 星星 (stars) 冷 (cold)

挑战

Write three sentences describing what you did last night, what the weather was like last night, and what time you usually wake up in the night.

词源

The word is composed of two characters. 夜 (yè) originally depicted a person under the moon or in the dark, representing night. 里 (lǐ) originally meant a village or a unit of distance, but evolved to mean 'inside' or 'within'. Together, they form a spatial metaphor for time: 'inside the night'.

原始含义： Within the nighttime hours.

Sino-Tibetan

文化背景

No specific cultural sensitivities, but be aware that asking someone what they do '夜里' (late at night) can sound intrusive if you don't know them well, as it implies private, late-night activities.

English speakers use 'at night' for anything after dark. Chinese speakers divide this into 晚上 (early evening) and 夜里 (late night).

The poem '静夜思' (Quiet Night Thought) by Li Bai, the most famous poem about the night in Chinese history. The modern song '夜空中最亮的星' (The Brightest Star in the Night Sky) by Escape Plan. The concept of '深夜食堂' (Midnight Diner), popularized by media, reflecting late-night urban food culture.

在生活中练习

真实语境

Weather Forecasts

夜里有雨
夜里降温
今天夜里到明天白天
夜里风大

Health and Sleep

夜里醒来
夜里失眠
夜里咳嗽
夜里出汗

Work and Schedules

夜里加班
夜里值班
夜里上班
夜里开会

Emergencies/Incidents

夜里停电
夜里发生事故
昨天夜里进贼了
夜里去医院

Storytelling/Atmosphere

夜里很安静
夜里黑漆漆的
夜里一个人
漫长的夜里

对话开场白

"你昨天夜里睡得好吗？ (Did you sleep well last night?)"

"你夜里一般几点睡觉？ (What time do you usually go to sleep at night?)"

"昨天夜里是不是下雨了？ (Did it rain last night?)"

"你夜里会起来喝水吗？ (Do you get up to drink water in the night?)"

"如果你夜里睡不着，你会做什么？ (If you can't sleep at night, what do you do?)"

日记主题

Describe what the weather was like last night (昨天夜里).

Write about a time you had to stay awake late into the night (夜里).

Compare what your city looks like during the day vs. at night (夜里).

What are your habits before going to sleep at night (夜里)?

Write a short fictional story that takes place late at night (夜里).

常见问题

10 个问题

No. In Chinese, time words must go before the verb or at the beginning of the sentence. Saying '我睡觉夜里' is grammatically incorrect. You must say '我夜里睡觉'.

晚上 (wǎnshang) is the evening, usually from sunset until about 10 PM. It's when you eat dinner or watch TV. 夜里 (yèlǐ) is late at night, usually after 10 PM or 11 PM, when most people are sleeping.

It is optional. You can say '在夜里' (in the night), but in everyday spoken Chinese, the '在' is usually omitted. '我夜里醒了' is more natural than '我在夜里醒了'.

You combine 昨天 (yesterday) with 夜里 to make 昨天夜里 (zuótiān yèlǐ). Similarly, 'tonight' is 今天夜里 (jīntiān yèlǐ).

夜里 is a neutral, everyday word. It is perfectly fine for both casual conversations and standard writing. For highly formal or official writing, '夜间' (yèjiān) is often used instead.

The character 里 (lǐ) does mean 'inside'. In Chinese, time is often conceptualized as a space. So 夜里 literally means 'inside the night', which translates to 'during the night' or 'at night'.

Yes, but you must use the particle 的 (de). For example, 'the night wind' is 夜里的风 (yèlǐ de fēng). You cannot just say 夜里风.

Adding 大 (big) before 夜里 is a colloquial way to emphasize how late it is. '大夜里的' means 'in the dead of night' or 'at this ungodly hour'.

In standard Mandarin, the 'li' in 夜里 is pronounced with a neutral tone (light and short), not its original third tone. So it is yè-li, not yè-lǐ.

No, 夜里 is an uncountable time word. If you want to count nights, you should use '一个夜晚' (yí gè yèwǎn) or simply '一天' (one day/night).