Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== yèxiāo: 夜宵 - Late-night Snack, Midnight Snack, Fourth Meal ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** yexiao, 夜宵, late-night snack in Chinese, midnight meal China, Chinese street food, what is yexiao, Chinese fourth meal, shaokao, post-dinner meal, Chinese nightlife food * **Summary:** Discover the cultural significance of **夜宵 (yèxiāo)**, the beloved Chinese "fourth meal." More than just a late-night snack, `yèxiāo` is a vibrant social ritual, a time for friends to gather after a long day or a night out to enjoy delicious street food like barbecue skewers (烧烤) and noodles. This guide explores the meaning, cultural context, and practical usage of `yèxiāo`, a cornerstone of modern Chinese urban life. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yèxiāo * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** A meal or substantial snack eaten late at night, typically after 9 PM. * **In a Nutshell:** `夜宵` isn't just about grabbing a bite from the fridge when you're hungry before bed. It's a distinct, post-dinner meal, often eaten out with friends or colleagues. It represents a moment of relaxation and social bonding that extends the day, turning the late hours into a lively and communal experience. Think of it less as a "snack" and more as a "fourth meal" that punctuates the end of an evening. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **夜 (yè):** This character means "night" or "evening." Pictorially, it can be seen as a person (人) under a large cover, symbolizing the darkness and stillness of night. * **宵 (xiāo):** This character also means "night" or "dark." It contains the "roof" radical (宀) over a character that represents "similar" or "resemble" (肖), suggesting the deep, uniform darkness of the night. * When combined, **夜宵 (yèxiāo)** literally translates to "night night" or "evening night." This repetition emphasizes that this meal takes place deep into the night, clearly distinguishing it from a regular dinner (`晚饭 wǎnfàn`). ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * In Chinese culture, `夜宵` is a cherished social institution, especially in bustling cities. It embodies the concept of **热闹 (rènao)**, a love for lively, bustling atmospheres. The act of gathering for `夜宵` is as important as the food itself. It’s a time to de-stress after a long day of work or study, to strengthen friendships, and to simply enjoy the vibrancy of city life after dark. * **Comparison with Western Culture:** An American might think of a "midnight snack" as grabbing a bowl of cereal alone or a quick drive-thru run. While functional, it lacks the communal, ritualistic feel of `夜宵`. The closest equivalent might be a late-night pizza run with friends after a party, but `夜宵` is a far more regular and culturally ingrained practice. It is an established, almost expected, part of a night out, functioning as a social "third space" between evening activities and going home. It reinforces social bonds (`关系 guānxi`) through the simple, shared pleasure of food. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * `夜宵` is an extremely common and informal part of daily life. It's the standard term for the late-night meal, whether enjoyed at a street stall, a 24-hour restaurant, or ordered via a delivery app like Meituan or Ele.me. * **Common Scenarios:** * **After Work:** Colleagues might decide to "去吃个夜宵 (qù chī ge yèxiāo)" to unwind after working overtime. * **After Socializing:** Friends will often cap off an evening of KTV, watching a movie, or playing games with a `夜宵` session. * **Student Life:** University students frequently gather for `夜宵` after late-night study sessions, with campus-adjacent food streets being incredibly popular. * The connotation is overwhelmingly positive, associated with fun, friendship, indulgence, and relaxation. The most common foods include **烧烤 (shāokǎo)** (barbecue skewers), **麻辣烫 (málàtàng)** (spicy hot pot bowls), fried rice, noodles, and dumplings, often accompanied by **啤酒 (píjiǔ)** (beer). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 走，我们去吃**夜宵**吧！ * Pinyin: Zǒu, wǒmen qù chī **yèxiāo** ba! * English: Let's go, let's go get a late-night snack! * Analysis: This is a classic, informal invitation. "吃夜宵" (chī yèxiāo) is the standard verb phrase, literally "to eat a late-night meal." * **Example 2:** * 昨晚的**夜宵**我们吃的是烧烤和啤酒。 * Pinyin: Zuówǎn de **yèxiāo** wǒmen chī de shì shāokǎo hé píjiǔ. * English: For our late-night meal last night, we had barbecue and beer. * Analysis: This sentence describes the content of the `夜宵`, highlighting two of the most popular choices. * **Example 3:** * 经常吃**夜宵**对身体不好，容易长胖。 * Pinyin: Jīngcháng chī **yèxiāo** duì shēntǐ bù hǎo, róngyì zhǎng pàng. * English: Frequently eating late-night meals is not good for your health; it's easy to gain weight. * Analysis: This shows a common piece of advice or concern related to the `夜宵` habit. * **Example 4:** * 加班到这么晚，我得点个**夜宵**外卖。 * Pinyin: Jiābān dào zhème wǎn, wǒ děi diǎn ge **yèxiāo** wàimài. * English: Having worked overtime this late, I need to order a late-night meal for delivery. * Analysis: This demonstrates the modern convenience of ordering `夜宵` via delivery services (`外卖 wàimài`). * **Example 5:** * 夏天的晚上，街边的**夜宵**摊特别热闹。 * Pinyin: Xiàtiān de wǎnshang, jiēbiān de **yèxiāo** tān tèbié rènao. * English: On summer nights, the roadside late-night food stalls are especially lively. * Analysis: This sentence captures the atmosphere (`热闹 rènao`) that is central to the `夜宵` culture. `夜宵摊` (yèxiāo tān) means "late-night food stall." * **Example 6:** * 你想吃什么当**夜宵**？面条还是饺子？ * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme dāng **yèxiāo**? Miàntiáo háishì jiǎozi? * English: What do you want to have for your late-night meal? Noodles or dumplings? * Analysis: The phrase "当夜宵" (dāng yèxiāo) means "as a late-night meal," showing how to ask about specific food choices. * **Example 7:** * 考试周，学校门口的**夜宵**店生意都很好。 * Pinyin: Kǎoshì zhōu, xuéxiào ménkǒu de **yèxiāo** diàn shēngyi dōu hěn hǎo. * English: During exam week, the late-night food shops at the school gate all do very good business. * Analysis: This highlights a specific context—student life—where `夜宵` is extremely popular. * **Example 8:** * 我们看完电影都饿了，就去附近找了个地方吃**夜宵**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen kàn wán diànyǐng dōu è le, jiù qù fùjìn zhǎo le ge dìfang chī **yèxiāo**. * English: We were all hungry after watching the movie, so we went to find a place nearby to eat a late-night meal. * Analysis: This shows `夜宵` as a natural follow-up activity to another evening event. * **Example 9:** * 虽然我知道不健康，但我就是戒不掉吃**夜宵**的习惯。 * Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ zhīdào bù jiànkāng, dàn wǒ jiùshì jiè bù diào chī **yèxiāo** de xíguàn. * English: Although I know it's unhealthy, I just can't quit the habit of eating a late-night meal. * Analysis: This expresses the tempting, almost addictive nature of the `夜宵` ritual for many people. * **Example 10:** * 这家店的**夜宵**很有名，我们得早点去排队。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de **yèxiāo** hěn yǒumíng, wǒmen děi zǎodiǎn qù páiduì. * English: This restaurant's late-night food is very famous, we have to go early to queue up. * Analysis: This illustrates that some `夜宵` spots are destinations in their own right, so popular that they require lining up. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`夜宵` vs. "Snack" (`零食 língshí`):** A common mistake for learners is to equate `夜宵` with a snack. A "snack" in Chinese is **[[零食]] (língshí)**, which refers to things like potato chips, cookies, or candy. `夜宵` is a full, hot meal, just smaller than dinner. You eat `零食` anytime, but you only eat `夜宵` late at night. * **`夜宵` vs. "Dinner" (`晚饭 wǎnfàn`):** The timing is the critical difference. **[[晚饭]] (wǎnfàn)** is dinner, eaten in the early evening (e.g., 6-8 PM). `夜宵` is a separate meal eaten much later (e.g., 10 PM - 2 AM), *after* dinner and other activities have concluded. You can eat both `晚饭` and `夜宵` on the same day. * **Incorrect Usage Example:** * //"我下午四点吃了**夜宵**。" (Wǒ xiàwǔ sì diǎn chī le yèxiāo.)// * **Why it's wrong:** This translates to "I ate a late-night meal at 4 PM." This is a contradiction. The word `夜` (night) is integral to the meaning. A meal at 4 PM would be a snack (`零食`) or an early dinner (`晚饭`). ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * `[[烧烤]] (shāokǎo)` - Barbecue skewers. Arguably the most iconic `夜宵` food in China. * `[[大排档]] (dàpáidàng)` - Open-air food stalls, often found on sidewalks, that are a classic setting for `夜宵`. * `[[外卖]] (wàimài)` - Food delivery/takeout. A very popular way for people to enjoy `夜宵` at home. * `[[熬夜]] (áoyè)` - To stay up late/pull an all-nighter. The activity that often necessitates or accompanies eating `夜宵`. * `[[热闹]] (rènao)` - Lively, bustling. This word perfectly describes the ideal atmosphere of a `夜宵` gathering. * `[[啤酒]] (píjiǔ)` - Beer. The most common alcoholic beverage consumed with `夜宵`. * `[[晚饭]] (wǎnfàn)` - Dinner. The main evening meal, which `夜宵` follows. * `[[零食]] (língshí)` - Snacks (chips, candy, etc.). Important to distinguish from the substantial meal of `夜宵`. * `[[麻辣烫]] (málàtàng)` - Spicy hot pot. A popular, customizable soupy dish often eaten for `夜宵`. * `[[凌晨]] (língchén)` - Before dawn, in the small hours of the morning (approx. 1 AM - 5 AM). The time when many `夜宵` sessions happen.