Meanings of 週
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About 週
Podcast: 週
Podcast: 週
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AI Study Notes for 週
周 (zhōu) vs 旬 (xún) — use 週 for a complete week, while 旬 refers to a ten-day period.
When using 週, avoid confusing it with other time-related terms like 日 (rì, day) or 月 (yuè, month). It’s typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing weeks in a professional setting, ensure you pair it with appropriate time markers to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing 'zhōu' can lead to misunderstandings.
Though 週 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other time expressions learners will encounter, like 星期 (xīngqī, week). Focus on recognizing 週 in time-related phrases and practice using it in various contexts to enhance your fluency.
Learners often confuse 週 with 周, which can lead to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我每一天去' (Wǒ měi tiān qù) instead of '我每週去' (Wǒ měi zhōu qù) when meaning 'I go every week' is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 週
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Etymology of 週
Originally a pictograph of engraved jade, now written as 琱. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value. In simplified Chinese 周 is also used to mean "week", while in traditional Chinese this meani
To walk 辶 in a circle 周; 周 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 週
Originally a pictograph of engraved jade, now written as 琱. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value. In simplified Chinese 周 is also used to mean "week", while in traditional Chinese this meani
- 1The giveawayTo walk 辶 in a circle 周; 周 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 週? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 週?
Decomposition of 週
Identify the Components
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How to say week; turn, cycle; anniversary in Chinese
“week; turn, cycle; anniversary” in Chinese is週
The character 週 (zhōu) primarily means 'week' in Mandarin, referring to a period of seven days. It can also indicate a cycle or rotation, as well as an anniversary in some contexts. This character is commonly used in both everyday conversation and formal writing when discussing time-related concepts.
When to use 週
When using 週, avoid confusing it with other time-related terms like 日 (rì, day) or 月 (yuè, month). It’s typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing weeks in a professional setting, ensure you pair it with appropriate time markers to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing 'zhōu' can lead to misunderstandings.
週 or something close to it
周 (zhōu) vs 旬 (xún) — use 週 for a complete week, while 旬 refers to a ten-day period.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 週 with 周, which can lead to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我每一天去' (Wǒ měi tiān qù) instead of '我每週去' (Wǒ měi zhōu qù) when meaning 'I go every week' is incorrect.
Write 週
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Practice writing 週 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 週
Compound Meaning
What does 周 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 週
You can say '我每週去健身房' (Wǒ měi zhōu qù jiànshēnfáng), meaning 'I go to the gym every week.'
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