during night
In nighttime hours
Use this to describe events that happen while the rest of the world is sleeping.
In 15 Sekunden
- Refers to events happening between sunset and sunrise.
- Commonly used for sleep, weather, or animal behavior.
- Usually sounds more natural as 'during the night' in conversation.
Bedeutung
This phrase describes something that happens while the sun is down and people are usually sleeping. It covers the entire time from late evening until the sun comes up the next morning.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Describing a weather event
It rained heavily during night, so the grass is wet.
It rained heavily during the night, so the grass is wet.
Talking about a pet's behavior
My cat likes to run around the house during night.
My cat likes to run around the house during the night.
A formal security report
The sensor was triggered three times during night.
The sensor was triggered three times during the night.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects the traditional human divide between the 'working day' and the 'resting night.' In many English-speaking countries, the night is culturally associated with privacy, safety concerns, or the supernatural, which is why we often specify when things happen during these hours.
Add 'the' for natural flow
While 'during night' is understood, saying 'during THE night' makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't confuse with 'Last Night'
If you are talking specifically about yesterday's dark hours, 'last night' is almost always better than 'during night'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Refers to events happening between sunset and sunrise.
- Commonly used for sleep, weather, or animal behavior.
- Usually sounds more natural as 'during the night' in conversation.
What It Means
During night refers to the period between sunset and sunrise. It is a simple way to say something occurred while the world was dark. Think of it as a time container. If you saw a shooting star at 2 AM, it happened during night. It is direct and easy to understand. You are talking about the hours of darkness.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to set the scene for an event. It usually comes at the beginning or end of a sentence. For example, "I heard a loud noise during night." It helps your listener know exactly when to visualize the action. You can use it for habits, like animals that hunt during night. It also works for one-time events, like a storm that passed through. Just remember it sounds a bit more general than saying "at 2 AM."
When To Use It
Use this when the specific hour doesn't matter as much as the darkness. It is great for storytelling or describing your sleep patterns. Use it when talking to a doctor about health issues. Use it when chatting with a neighbor about security. It is perfect for texting a friend about a weird dream you had. If you want to sound a bit more natural, you might say during the night, but during night works for quick notes.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this if you are talking about a specific evening event. If you went to a party at 8 PM, say "last night" instead. If you are at a business dinner, do not say you are there during night. That sounds like you are hiding in the shadows! Avoid it when you need to be precise for a meeting. If a flight leaves at 11 PM, give the exact time. Also, don't use it for daytime naps. That would just be confusing!
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, the night is often seen as a time of mystery or rest. Using during night can sometimes sound a bit poetic or clinical. Most people actually prefer to add the word "the" to make it during the night. However, in poetry or song lyrics, you might hear it shortened. It reflects a universal human experience: the world looks and feels different when the sun goes away. It is the time for dreams, stars, and quiet streets.
Common Variations
The most common version you will hear is during the night. You might also hear at night or overnight. If you want to sound very fancy, you could say nocturnal. For something that happens every single night, use nightly. If you are talking about the very late hours, you can say in the middle of the night. Each one changes the flavor of your story just a little bit.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a neutral collocation. For the most natural sound in daily conversation, always include the definite article: 'during the night'.
Add 'the' for natural flow
While 'during night' is understood, saying 'during THE night' makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't confuse with 'Last Night'
If you are talking specifically about yesterday's dark hours, 'last night' is almost always better than 'during night'.
The 'Night Owl' Secret
If you are active 'during night' by choice, English speakers will call you a 'night owl.' It's a compliment for being productive late!
Beispiele
6It rained heavily during night, so the grass is wet.
It rained heavily during the night, so the grass is wet.
Used to explain why something looks different in the morning.
My cat likes to run around the house during night.
My cat likes to run around the house during the night.
Describes a recurring habit during dark hours.
The sensor was triggered three times during night.
The sensor was triggered three times during the night.
Used to provide a general timeframe in a report.
I woke up so many times during night!
I woke up so many times during the night!
Expressing frustration about poor sleep.
My fridge makes scary noises only during night.
My fridge makes scary noises only during the night.
Playing on the idea that things are scarier in the dark.
I feel very lonely during night when it is quiet.
I feel very lonely during the night when it is quiet.
Sharing a personal feeling about the late hours.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the best word to complete the sentence about a sleeping baby.
The baby slept peacefully ___ night.
We use 'during' to show that the sleeping happened within the timeframe of the night.
Complete the sentence about a security guard's job.
He has to stay awake and watch the building ___ night.
While 'at night' is common, 'during night' specifically emphasizes the duration of his shift.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Night Phrases
Used with friends or in quick texts.
at night
Standard way to describe the timeframe.
during the night
Used in technical or medical reports.
nocturnal hours
When to say 'During Night'
Sleep issues
I coughed a lot during night.
Weather changes
Snow fell during night.
Animal activity
Owls hunt during night.
Security
The alarm rang during night.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen'At night' is a general time, like 'I work at night.' 'During night' focuses on the time passing while something happens, like 'It rained during the night.'
It is mostly correct, but it sounds much better if you say during the night. Without 'the', it sounds a bit like a newspaper headline.
No, we only use this for the actual hours of darkness. For a nap, you would say during my nap or in the afternoon.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend without any problems.
You can say during the nights (plural) or simply use the adverb nightly.
They are very similar! Overnight often implies the entire duration from start to finish, while during night just means it happened at some point in that window.
The evening is usually 6 PM to 9 PM. During the night is usually after 10 PM when people are sleeping.
Many people forget that during needs a noun. You can't say 'during it was dark'; you must say during the night.
Yes, especially in logistics. For example, 'The shipment will arrive during the night' is very common.
This is used when something happens specifically around 2 AM or 3 AM, rather than just generally while it was dark.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Overnight
Happening during or staying for the duration of the night.
At the crack of dawn
Right when the night ends and the sun starts to rise.
In the dead of night
In the very middle of the night when it is quietest and darkest.
After dark
Any time after the sun has set.
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