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March 24, 2026
昼(晝)zhòu(zhou4)
The character 昼 (zhòu) refers to the daytime, specifically the period of light when the sun is above the horizon. It is commonly used in contexts that contrast day with night, emphasizing the activities and experiences typically associated with daylight hours.
Strokes9Radical尸Frequency#31930DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of day and night often influences daily routines, with many traditional activities scheduled around daylight hours, such as markets and festivals. The character 昼 reflects this cultural rhythm of life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, bright sun (the radical 日, meaning 'sun') shining over a bustling city during the day. The character 昼 looks like a 'sun' (日) sitting above a 'house' (土), symbolizing the brightness and activity of daytime.
Meanings of 昼
zhòu(zhou4)
1daytime
2daytime, daylight
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 昼
昼Simplified
晝Traditional
9Strokes
尸Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#31930Frequency Rank
Podcast: 昼
Podcast: 昼
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AI Study Notes for 昼
Quick Contrast
昼 (zhòu) vs 日 (rì) — use 昼 when specifically referring to the daytime period as opposed to 日, which can mean day in a broader sense, including both day and date.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big, bright sun (the radical 日, meaning 'sun') shining over a bustling city during the day. The character 昼 looks like a 'sun' (日) sitting above a 'house' (土), symbolizing the brightness and activity of daytime.
Usage Notes
When using 昼, it is important to pair it with appropriate verbs or adjectives that convey daytime activities, such as '工作' (to work) or '明亮' (bright). Avoid confusing it with '夜' (night), which represents the opposite time of day. It's used in both formal and informal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
While 昼 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other words related to time and daily activities. Students should focus on understanding its usage in contrast to 夜 (night) and the phrases that commonly accompany it.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of day and night often influences daily routines, with many traditional activities scheduled around daylight hours, such as markets and festivals. The character 昼 reflects this cultural rhythm of life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 昼 with 夜 (night), leading to wrong sentences like '我喜欢昼' (I like daytime) when they mean 'I like night.' The correct usage would be '我喜欢夜.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昼
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Grammar Patterns of 昼
昼 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Weather means day or night, brightness , temperature and seasonal changes.
4
他禁食四十昼夜, 后来就饿了.
tā jīn shí sì shí zhòu yè, , hòu lái jiù è.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
5
夜尽昼来。
yè jìn zhòu lái。
Night and day begin to merge.
6
熬过了炎热的白昼,我们美美地任夜晚凉爽的微风吹拂.
āo guò le yán rè de bái zhòu, , wǒ mén měi měi dì rèn yè wǎn liáng shuǎng de wēi fēng chuī.
After such a hot day we enjoyed the coolness of the evening breeze.
Cultural Notes for 昼
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of day and night often influences daily routines, with many traditional activities scheduled around daylight hours, such as markets and festivals. The character 昼 reflects this cultural rhythm of life.
Word Family of 昼
Words Containing This Character8
昼夜zhòuyèday and night晝夜
白昼daytime白晝
昼zhòudaytime晝
不分昼夜day and night不分晝夜
昼伏夜出nocturnal晝伏夜出
夜行昼伏to travel at night and lie low by day (idiom)夜行晝伏
俾昼作夜to make day as night (idiom, from Book of Songs); fig. to prolong one's pleasure regardless of the hour俾晝作夜
俾夜作昼work especially hard俾夜作晝
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 昼夜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 昼
The pinyin for 昼 is 'zhòu', where the 'zh' sounds like 'j' in 'judge' and the 'òu' has a falling tone.
Yes, it is sometimes used in expressions that discuss daytime activities or events, such as '昼夜' (day and night).
Yes, 昼 is often used in more formal writing or literary contexts, while 日 is more common in everyday conversation.
