Meaning and Usage
"当晚" means "that very night" or "the same night". It is used to specify the night of a particular event or action, emphasizing immediacy or the exact timing.
Common Contexts
It often appears in news reports, storytelling, or daily conversations to indicate something happened or was planned on the same night as a referenced event.
Collocations and Patterns
- 当晚警方 (the police that night): used in official or news contexts.
- 当晚约会 (date that night): common in social contexts.
- 当晚发生 (occurred that night): emphasizes timing of an event.
Usage Notes
"当晚" is more formal and specific than just "晚上" (evening/night). It highlights the exact night something happened, often in written or formal speech. Avoid confusing it with "当天" (that day), which refers to the whole day rather than the night.
Summary
Use "当晚" when you want to clearly point out that something took place on the same night as a previously mentioned event, especially in storytelling, news, or formal contexts.