Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
黑夜()hēiyè(hei1ye4)
黑夜 (hēi yè) refers to the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise, commonly understood as 'night.' This term is often used to describe not only the time of day but also the feelings associated with darkness, such as mystery or fear. It can appear in literary contexts as well as everyday conversation.
Frequency#7638DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, night has various associations, such as the time for family gatherings during festivals or the quietness that allows for reflection. It is also a common theme in poetry, symbolizing mystery or longing.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dark, starless night (黑夜) where you can barely see your hand in front of your face. The character 黑 (hēi) means 'black,' and it looks like a dark shadow, while 夜 (yè) with its roof-like shape suggests the covering of night. Together, they create a vivid image of an enveloping darkness.
Meanings of 黑夜
hēiyè(hei1ye4)
1night
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 黑夜
黑夜Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 黑夜
Podcast: 黑夜
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 黑夜
Quick Contrast
夜晚 (yèwǎn) - use 黑夜 when emphasizing the darkness or mystery, while 夜晚 is more neutral and focuses on the time of night.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dark, starless night (黑夜) where you can barely see your hand in front of your face. The character 黑 (hēi) means 'black,' and it looks like a dark shadow, while 夜 (yè) with its roof-like shape suggests the covering of night. Together, they create a vivid image of an enveloping darkness.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 黑夜 with just 夜 (yè), which means 'night' in a more general sense. Remember that 黑夜 emphasizes the darkness aspect. This term is more formal, so in casual conversation, you might simply say 夜. Be careful with the tones; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 黑夜 itself is not an HSK word, it can be linked to other HSK vocabulary that describes time and nature, such as 早晨 (zǎo chén, morning) and 白天 (bái tiān, daytime). Focus on recognizing the radicals 黑 (black) and 夜 (night) to build your vocabulary around descriptions of time.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, night has various associations, such as the time for family gatherings during festivals or the quietness that allows for reflection. It is also a common theme in poetry, symbolizing mystery or longing.
Common Mistakes
Learners might use 黑夜 in contexts where a lighter or more neutral term would be appropriate, such as '我喜欢黑夜' (I like dark nights), when they mean 'I like the night.' A correction would be: '我喜欢夜.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 黑夜
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 黑夜 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 黑夜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Common Confusions with 黑夜
黑夜vs夜
yè
夜 means night, while 也 means also.
黑夜vs黑
hēi
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "night"?
or
Cultural Notes for 黑夜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, night has various associations, such as the time for family gatherings during festivals or the quietness that allows for reflection. It is also a common theme in poetry, symbolizing mystery or longing.
Frequently Asked Questions about 黑夜
Some synonyms for 黑夜 include 夜晚 (yè wǎn) which means 'nighttime' and 晚上 (wǎn shàng) which refers to the evening. These terms can often be used interchangeably, but 黑夜 emphasizes the darkness of the night.
You can say '黑暗的夜晚' (hēi'àn de yèwǎn) to mean 'dark night' in Chinese. This phrase emphasizes the lack of light during the nighttime, enhancing the imagery of the night being dark.
黑夜 (hēi yè) means 'night' in Chinese, specifically referring to the dark period of the day when the sun is not visible. It can be used both literally and metaphorically in various contexts, such as describing a time of darkness or difficulty.
You can use 黑夜 in sentences to describe nighttime activities or feelings associated with the dark. For example, '在黑夜中，我喜欢看星星' means 'In the night, I enjoy watching the stars.' This shows how to incorporate the term into everyday conversation.
夜 is a more general term for 'night,' while 黑夜 specifically emphasizes the darkness of the night.
You can say, '在黑夜中，星星闪烁,' which means 'In the black night, the stars twinkle.'
Yes, 黑夜 is often used in literature or more formal discussions about time and atmosphere.
