夜中

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
夜	中
よ Grade: 2	なか Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Compound of 夜 (yo, “night”) +‎ 中 (naka, “middle”).

Noun

夜(よ)中(なか) • (yonaka) 

1. late at night, the middle of the night
2. midnight

   Synonym: 真夜中 (mayonaka)

Usage notes

The midnight sense of specifically at 12:00 AM is more commonly expressed by the term 真夜中 (mayonaka).

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 真(ま)夜(よ)中(なか) (mayonaka, “midnight”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
夜	中
や Grade: 2	ちゅう Grade: 1
on'yomi

Apparently from Middle Chinese 夜中 (MC yaeH trjuwng).

Noun

夜(や)中(ちゅう) • (yachū) 

1. nighttime, the night, the period of time during the night

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
夜	中
よ Grade: 2	じゅう Grade: 1
yutōyomi

Compound of 夜 (yo, “night”) +‎ 中 (jū, “during, throughout”).

Noun

夜(よ)中(じゅう) • (yojū) ^{←よぢゆう (yodyuu)?}

1. the entire night, the period of time throughout the night