晩

晚 is a phono-semantic compound consisting of:

日 (sun / day) — semantic component, representing “the time of day.”

免 (to escape / avoid) — phonetic component, providing sound (miên → wǎn).

Together, they depict the sun that is about to disappear, symbolizing the end of the day or the approach of nightfall.

The sense of “lateness” is metaphorically extended to mean maturity, decline, or the approach of an end, as seen in words such as:

晚霞 (만하) — evening glow

晚年 (만년) — one’s later years

晚會 (만회) — evening gathering or banquet

In classical literature:

晚 often carries emotional connotations of melancholy, reflection, or tranquility.

Poets of the Tang and Song dynasties used 晚 to describe the beauty and impermanence of twilight:

「夕陽無限好，只是近黃昏。」

“The evening sun is infinitely beautiful — yet it nears the dusk.”

(Li Shangyin, Tang dynasty)

Here, 晚 and related imagery symbolize the fleeting nature of life — the graceful decline before nightfall.

In art and aesthetics:

In painting and calligraphy, 晩景 (evening scenes) express quietude and nostalgia, often featuring fading light, falling leaves, and returning boats.

The “evening tone” (晚調) in Chinese poetry became synonymous with graceful melancholy, a hallmark of mature artistic style.