‘熬夜’ literally combines ‘熬’ (to endure, to simmer slowly over low heat) and ‘夜’ (night), evoking the image of enduring through the night—like a pot simmering long into darkness. It means to stay awake later than usual, especially past midnight, often for work, study, or entertainment. Unlike neutral terms like ‘晚睡’ (go to bed late), ‘熬夜’ carries a slight negative connotation: it implies strain, fatigue, or health risk, and is commonly associated with sacrifice or poor habits.

This verb is frequently used in advice, warnings, or self-reflection—for example, doctors may warn patients against frequent ‘熬夜’, students might complain about ‘熬夜复习’ (staying up late to review), and parents often tell children ‘别熬夜’ (don’t stay up late). It functions as a transitive or intransitive verb and typically appears in simple clauses, often with time phrases (e.g., ‘经常熬夜’, ‘昨晚熬夜了’) or modal verbs (e.g., ‘不能熬夜’).