====== xiāoyè: 宵夜 - Late-night meal, Midnight snack, Supper ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** xiaoye, 宵夜, chi xiaoye, 吃宵夜, what is xiaoye, Chinese late night snack, Chinese supper, midnight meal China, fourth meal, Chinese street food, late night food
  * **Summary:** 宵夜 (xiāoyè) is the beloved "fourth meal" in Chinese culture, a late-night meal or midnight snack enjoyed after 9 PM. More than just eating, it's a vibrant social ritual where friends gather at bustling street food stalls or restaurants to unwind. From barbecue skewers to noodles, a classic 宵夜 (xiāoyè) is an essential part of daily life and the urban nightscape in China.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiāo yè
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** N/A (Extremely common in daily speech, but not on the official HSK 1-6 lists)
  * **Concise Definition:** A meal eaten late at night, typically after 9 PM.
  * **In a Nutshell:** 宵夜 is the meal you have long after dinner but before you go to sleep. It's less about necessity and more about pleasure and social connection. Think of it as a cultural institution centered around relaxing with friends, sharing delicious food, and enjoying the lively night atmosphere of a city. It can be a light snack or a full, hearty meal.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **宵 (xiāo):** This character means "night" or "late night." The top radical 宀 represents a roof, and the bottom part 肖 (xiāo) is a phonetic component. Together, they evoke the idea of the deep part of the night, often spent indoors.
  * **夜 (yè):** This character also means "night." It's a more general term for nighttime. The character itself is a pictogram showing a person (亻, a variant of 人) under a cover with the moon (夕) nearby, painting a clear picture of nighttime.
  * When combined, **宵夜 (xiāoyè)** literally translates to "night-night." The repetition of the "night" concept emphasizes that this meal specifically belongs to the late hours, distinguishing it from a regular dinner (晚餐 wǎncān).
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
宵夜 is a cornerstone of modern Chinese social life, particularly in urban areas. It's the default activity for friends looking to hang out, for students after a long study session, or for colleagues unwinding after working overtime. The culture of 宵夜 is deeply connected to the "night economy" (夜经济 yèjīngjì), where cities come alive after dark with bustling night markets, street vendors, and restaurants open until the early morning hours.
A helpful comparison for a Western learner is the concept of "going for late-night pizza or tacos" after a night out. However, there are key differences:
  * **Frequency:** While a late-night bite in the West is often occasional, 宵夜 can be a regular, almost daily, ritual for many people in China.
  * **Social Function:** 宵夜 is not just a post-activity meal; it is often **the** main social event of the evening. It's a time to chat, bond, and de-stress.
  * **Variety:** The food options are vast and go far beyond typical fast food. Popular choices include barbecue skewers (烧烤 shāokǎo), spicy crayfish (麻辣小龙虾 málà xiǎolóngxiā), wontons (馄饨 húntun), and various noodle dishes.
This practice reflects a cultural value of collectivism and enjoying shared experiences. The act of gathering around a table, sharing various dishes, and talking for hours fosters a sense of community and camaraderie.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
宵夜 is an informal and universally understood term used in everyday conversation. The most common way to use it is in the phrase **吃宵夜 (chī xiāoyè)**, which means "to eat a late-night meal."
  * **Social Invitations:** It's extremely common to invite someone to 宵夜. A text message saying "宵夜?" is a clear and casual way to ask a friend to hang out.
  * **Dining Choices:** The term is associated with specific types of food venues, primarily street food stalls (路边摊 lùbiāntān), open-air eateries (大排档 dàpáidàng), and specialized late-night restaurants.
  * **Modern Trends:** With the rise of food delivery apps, ordering 宵夜 via 外卖 (wàimài) to eat at home while watching TV or playing games has become incredibly popular, especially among the younger generation.
The connotation is almost always positive and relaxed, associated with fun, friendship, and good food.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 走，我们去吃**宵夜**吧！
    * Pinyin: Zǒu, wǒmen qù chī **xiāoyè** ba!
    * English: Let's go, let's go get a late-night meal!
    * Analysis: A classic, casual invitation. This is one of the most common ways you'll hear the term used.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你想吃什么当**宵夜**？烧烤还是麻辣烫？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme dāng **xiāoyè**? Shāokǎo háishì málàtàng?
    * English: What do you want to have for your late-night meal? Barbecue or Malatang?
    * Analysis: Here, 当 (dāng) means "as" or "for." This sentence shows how to discuss specific food choices for 宵夜.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 经常吃**宵夜**对身体不好，容易发胖。
    * Pinyin: Jīngcháng chī **xiāoyè** duì shēntǐ bù hǎo, róngyì fāpàng.
    * English: Frequently eating late-night meals is not good for your health; it's easy to gain weight.
    * Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the common health advice associated with the habit of eating 宵夜.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 昨晚我和朋友们吃**宵夜**吃到凌晨两点。
    * Pinyin: Zuówǎn wǒ hé péngyǒumen chī **xiāoyè** chī dào língchén liǎng diǎn.
    * English: Last night my friends and I had a late-night meal until 2 AM.
    * Analysis: This shows the social and time-related aspect of 宵夜. The verb 吃 (chī) is repeated for emphasis, a common grammatical structure.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 夏天的晚上，街边的**宵夜**摊特别热闹。
    * Pinyin: Xiàtiān de wǎnshàng, jiēbiān de **xiāoyè** tān tèbié rènào.
    * English: On summer nights, the streetside late-night food stalls are especially lively.
    * Analysis: Here, 宵夜 is used as an adjective to describe the food stalls (宵夜摊 xiāoyè tān).
  * **Example 6:**
    * 加完班，我只想点个外卖当**宵夜**。
    * Pinyin: Jiā wán bān, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng diǎn ge wàimài dāng **xiāoyè**.
    * English: After finishing my overtime work, I just want to order some delivery for my late-night meal.
    * Analysis: This reflects the modern, convenient way of having 宵夜, especially after a long day at work.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 这家店的**宵夜**很有名，我们去尝尝吧。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de **xiāoyè** hěn yǒumíng, wǒmen qù chángchang ba.
    * English: This restaurant's late-night food is very famous, let's go try it.
    * Analysis: 宵夜 is used here as a noun referring to the specific late-night menu or food offered by an establishment.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他有吃**宵夜**的习惯，所以睡得比较晚。
    * Pinyin: Tā yǒu chī **xiāoyè** de xíguàn, suǒyǐ shuì de bǐjiào wǎn.
    * English: He has a habit of eating a late-night meal, so he goes to bed relatively late.
    * Analysis: This connects the action of eating 宵夜 to a person's lifestyle or habits (习惯 xíguàn).
  * **Example 9:**
    * 今晚我请客，**宵夜**随便点！
    * Pinyin: Jīnwǎn wǒ qǐngkè, **xiāoyè** suíbiàn diǎn!
    * English: It's my treat tonight, order whatever you want for our late-night meal!
    * Analysis: A generous offer often heard among friends. 请客 (qǐngkè) means "to treat someone," and 随便点 (suíbiàn diǎn) means "order whatever."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 对很多大学生来说，吃**宵夜**是重要的社交活动。
    * Pinyin: Duì hěn duō dàxuéshēng lái shuō, chī **xiāoyè** shì zhòngyào de shèjiāo huódòng.
    * English: For many university students, eating a late-night meal is an important social activity.
    * Analysis: This sentence explicitly states the cultural significance of 宵夜 in a specific demographic.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **宵夜 vs. 晚餐 (wǎncān):** This is the most critical distinction. **晚餐 (wǎncān)** is "dinner," the main evening meal typically eaten between 6-8 PM. **宵夜 (xiāoyè)** is a separate, later meal eaten after 9 PM. Calling your 7 PM dinner a 宵夜 is incorrect.
  * **It's not just a "snack":** While the English translation is often "midnight snack," a 宵夜 can be a very substantial and heavy meal. It's incorrect to assume it's always something light like a bag of chips or a piece of fruit.
  * **"Supper" as a False Friend:** In some English dialects, "supper" refers to a light meal before bed. While similar, 宵夜 is defined by the **late hour** it is eaten and its **strong social component**, which "supper" does not always imply. Furthermore, 宵夜 is often far from light.
  * **Incorrect Usage:**
    * //我今天下午五点吃了宵夜。// (Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn chīle xiāoyè.) - **Wrong.** 5 PM is too early. It should be 晚餐 (wǎncān).
    * //我的宵夜是一杯牛奶。// (Wǒ de xiāoyè shì yī bēi niúnǎi.) - **Technically not wrong, but culturally unusual.** While a glass of milk is something you might have late at night, it doesn't capture the spirit or typical nature of a 宵夜, which is usually a more social and savory affair.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[晚餐]] (wǎncān) - Dinner. The main evening meal that precedes 宵夜.
  * [[夜市]] (yèshì) - Night market. A prime location for finding a huge variety of 宵夜 options.
  * [[烧烤]] (shāokǎo) - Barbecue/Grill. Arguably the most popular type of food for 宵夜 in many parts of China.
  * [[大排档]] (dàpáidàng) - An open-air food stall, often with simple tables and chairs on the sidewalk. The classic venue for 宵夜.
  * [[小吃]] (xiǎochī) - Literally "small eats"; snacks or street food. A 宵夜 meal is often composed of several different 小吃.
  * [[熬夜]] (áoyè) - To stay up all night or very late. A common activity that leads to needing 宵夜.
  * [[外卖]] (wàimài) - Takeout/Food delivery. The modern, convenient way to enjoy 宵夜 at home.
  * [[深夜食堂]] (shēnyè shítáng) - "Midnight Diner." A famous Japanese TV series and cultural concept that strongly resonates with the warm, personal, and comforting feeling of Chinese 宵夜 culture.