早晚

• Pinyin: zǎo wǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 早 = 日 (sun) + 十 — sun just risen; 晚 = 日 (sun) + 免 (exempt) — sun going down

Meaning

Morning and evening; sooner or later; eventually. Refers to daily times or the certainty of future events.

Has two main meanings: literally refers to morning and evening times of day, and figuratively means 'sooner or later' indicating inevitability. The adverbial use emphasizes that something will definitely happen, though the timing is uncertain.

Examples

1. 这种不负责任的态度早晚会出问题的。 This kind of irresponsible attitude will cause problems sooner or later.
2. 老年人早晚都会在公园里锻炼身体。 The elderly exercise in the park both morning and evening.
3. 照他这样花钱，早晚得把积蓄花光。 The way he spends money, he'll run through his savings sooner or later.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, predictions, warnings

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 这事早晚会解决的。(This matter will be resolved sooner or later.)
• 她早晚起床都很准时。(She gets up punctually both morning and evening.)

Don't Say

• 早晚五点。(For specific time, use 早上五点 or 晚上五点 — not 早晚)

Origin & History

Compound of 早 (early, morning) and 晚 (late, evening). When used figuratively, the contrast between early and late emphasizes the certainty rather than timing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal