Chinese Conversation · Level 5
89 words
Chinese word
晚
Pronunciation
Pinyinwǎn
Meaning
- adjectivelate
Example
现在天有点晚了，我们回家吧。xiàn zài tiān yóu diǎn wǎn le wǒ men huí jiā ba
It's getting a little late now, so let's go home.
More examples
他昨晚睡得晚，所以今天很累。tā zuó wǎn shuì de wǎn suó yǐ jīn tiān hěn lèi
He went to bed late last night, so he is very tired today.
Core concept
The later stretch of time, when the day is nearing night or an expected time has passed.
Common phrases
睡得晚shuì de wǎn
go to bed late
太晚了tài wǎn le
too late
有点晚yóu diǎn wǎn
a little late
Similar words
迟chí: Describes being later than the time that was planned or agreed.
Definition in Chinese
不早，时间靠后；用于描述晚于约定时间或接近夜晚的情形。bù zǎo shí jiān kào hòu yòng yú miáo shù wǎn yú yuē dìng shí jiān huò jiē jìn yè wǎn de qíng xíng
Word origin
晚 (wǎn, "late; night") uses 日 (rì, "sun") to point to a time of day and 免 (miǎn, "sound clue") to help give the character its sound, linking it to the day's later hours.
Usage tips
- English late often suggests a missed schedule, but 晚 (wǎn, "late") can simply place a time near night, so it does not always imply a mistake.
Other meanings
- nightnoun
Opposites
- 早zǎoearlyadjective
Related words
- 晚安wǎn āngood nightinterjection
- 晚上wǎn shàngnightnoun