How to Write 夤 (yín) — Meaning “Late at night”

Imagine that 夕 (evening) is the roof of a house, and below it 寅 looks like a person holding a candle (the top part of 寅 resembling a flame). This picture of someone staying up late with a candle helps you remember that 夤 means 'late at night'.

Write the top part 夕 first, making sure its two strokes are compact and balanced. The bottom part 寅 has a complex structure with many horizontal lines; keep them evenly spaced and slightly shorter than the top 夕 to avoid making the character top-heavy.

夤夜 (yín yè) means 'in the dead of night' and is used in literary or formal writing to describe late-night events. 夤缘 (yín yuán) means 'to pull strings or use connections to get ahead' and often carries a negative connotation of scheming or networking for personal gain.

夤 is a rare character today, mainly found in classical literature or formal idioms. It appears in phrases like '夤夜赶路' (traveling late at night) to create an old-fashioned or poetic feel. Because it is not in HSK, most learners encounter it only in advanced reading or historical texts.

Common words containing 夤 include: 夤夜 (yín yè) — In the dead of night; 夤缘 (yín yuán) — To pull strings / to use connections to get ahead; 夤 (yín) — Late at night.