siu1宵
Jyutpingsiu1
Yalesīu
Definition
Night; nighttime.
neutraltime
How it's used
宵 is rarely used as a standalone noun in modern spoken Cantonese, appearing almost exclusively in compound words related to nighttime activities. It carries a slightly formal or literary nuance compared to the everyday word 夜. You will most frequently encounter it in terms like 宵夜 for late-night snacks or 通宵 for pulling an all-nighter.
Examples
Are you going to have a late-night snack tonight?
He worked all night, it is really exhausting.
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
