How to Say ‘It's late.’ in Simplified Chinese
很晚了。
hěn wǎn le
[hun wahn le]
💬 Usage Tip: Here 很 doesn't really mean "very"; it just completes the sentence. The 了 signals that things have reached this point: it's gotten late.
🇨🇳 In China: Saying 很晚了 is a common, polite way to start wrapping up a visit or a dinner.
Phrase Breakdown
很
hěn
[hun]
very; quite
An adverb used before adjectives or some verbs to soften or indicate degree, often translated as 'very' or 'quite.'
我们公司很欢迎新同事。
Our company very much welcomes new colleagues.
晚
wǎn
[wahn]
late
Describes something happening late in time.
请问最晚可以几点取消订位？
May I ask, what is the latest time I can cancel the reservation?
了
le
[le]
(change of situation particle)
Placed at the end of a sentence to show a new situation or change of state.
天黑了。
It has gotten dark.
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