first night watch (in ancient China)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to sound the first night watch
archaicThis term refers to the traditional Chinese timekeeping practice where the night was divided into five two-hour watches (更, gēng). 起更 marks the beginning of the first watch, usually around 7-9 pm. The term is archaic and mostly found in historical contexts or classical literature.
Tiān天
sè色
yǐ已
wǎn晚
，
mǎ马
shàng上
jiù就
yào要
qǐ起
gēng更
le了
。
It's getting late, and the first night watch is about to sound.
Gǔ古
dài代
chéng城
shì市
zài在
qǐ起
gēng更
shí时
huì会
guān关
bì闭
chéng城
mén门
。
In ancient cities, the gates would be closed at the first night watch.
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Xiǎo小
shuō说
lǐ里
miáo描
xiě写
zhǔ主
jué角
zài在
qǐ起
gēng更
shí时
fēn分
tōu偷
tōu偷
liū溜
chū出
le了
zhái宅
yuàn院
。
The novel describes the protagonist sneaking out of the mansion at the time of the first watch.