熬夜

• Pinyin: áo yè
• Hanzi breakdown: 熬 = to endure/cook slowly; 夜 = night

Meaning

To stay up late; to burn the midnight oil.

Describes staying awake past normal bedtime, often for work, study, or entertainment. Generally viewed negatively for health reasons in Chinese culture.

Examples

1. 他每天熬夜打游戏，身体越来越差。 He stays up late every night playing games, and his health is getting worse.
2. 考试前一周她天天熬夜复习。 She stayed up late studying every day the week before exams.
3. 年轻时熬夜没感觉，年纪大了才知道伤身体。 Staying up late felt fine when I was young, but now I realize it takes a toll.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, health

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 别老熬夜，对身体不好。(Don't always stay up late — it's bad for your health.)
• 我昨晚熬夜赶报告。(I stayed up late last night finishing a report.)

Don't Say

• 说'熬夜'形容正常的夜间工作时间 (Don't use 熬夜 for normal night shifts — it implies staying up past one's usual bedtime)

Origin & History

熬 (to endure) + 夜 (night). Together: to endure through the night.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal