san4 hei1晨曦
Jyutpingsan4 hei1
Yalesàhn hēi
Definition
Rays of the morning sun; first light of day.
writtennaturetime
How it's used
Literary and poetic in nature, this term is rarely used in casual daily conversation to describe the time of day. It evokes a sense of hope or a fresh start, often appearing in written prose, song lyrics, or formal descriptions of scenery. If you simply want to talk about the morning, stick to 朝早 or 早晨.
Examples
They set off for a hike in the morning light.
Related words
Common phrases
the first rays of dawn
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common time marker like 晏晝 or 朝早. Using it in a mundane context, such as saying you woke up at 晨曦, will sound overly dramatic or like you are reciting poetry.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
