first half of the night; from dusk to midnight
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
first half of the night (from dusk until midnight)
Refers to the period from nightfall until midnight (12 AM). Contrasts with 后半夜 (second half of the night). Also known as 上半夜.
Wǒ我
tōng通
cháng常
zài在
qián前
bàn半
yè夜
gōng工
zuò作
，
hòu后
bàn半
yè夜
shuì睡
jiào觉
。
I usually work during the first half of the night and sleep during the second half.
Dōng冬
tiān天
de的
qián前
bàn半
yè夜
tè特
bié别
lěng冷
。
The first half of the night is especially cold in winter.
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Qián前
bàn半
yè夜
tā他
dōu都
zài在
kàn看
shū书
，
zhí直
dào到
shí十
èr二
diǎn点
cái才
shuì睡
。
He spent the entire first half of the night reading and didn't sleep until twelve o'clock.
Shàng上
bàn半
yè夜
hé和
qián前
bàn半
yè夜
zhǐ指
de的
shì是
tóng同
yī一
gè个
shí时
jiān间
duàn段
。
Shàng bàn yè and qián bàn yè refer to the same time period.