Common Usage & Traps
- 每周 — every week
- 一周 — one week
- 周末 — weekend
- 上周 — last week
- 下周 — next week
- 周一 — Monday
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周周每周周 is not reduplicated to mean 'every week'; use 每周.
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一个周一周一周 is the standard way to say 'one week'; 一个周 sounds unnatural.
周
Origin & Mnemonic:
Dense, closely set crops planted within a bounded field. To surround or encircle; all around; a full cycle; a week; thorough; Zhou dynasty or surname. A fenced field (田) inside an outer boundary, with marks of dense crops and a small base opening.
What is the difference between 周 and 星期?
Both mean 'week', but 周 is shorter and more common in fixed compounds, while 星期 is more common in speech and for full day names.
周 and 星期 overlap, but they are not fully interchangeable in everyday use. 周 is very common in compounds like 周末, 每周, 上周, 下周, and 周一. 星期 is more common in spoken Chinese and in full day names like 星期一. Learners often overuse 周 in speech because textbooks list it as the main word for 'week'.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday speech | 下星期 | 下个周 |
| Fixed compounds | 周末, 每周 | 星期末, 每星期 (less common in compounds) |
| Days of week | 星期一 / 周一 | 礼拜一 (regional, not neutral) |
Can 周 be used as a surname?
Yes, 周 is a common surname, but that meaning is separate from 'week'.
周 is one of the most common Chinese surnames, as in 周恩来. As a surname it is written Zhōu in pinyin. This is a different usage from 周 meaning 'week', so context decides the meaning. Do not assume every 周 means 'week'.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Surname use | 周先生 | 星期先生 |
| Week use | 一周 | 一星期 (also fine, but not a surname) |
| Pinyin | Zhōu (surname) | zhōu (week) |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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他也在中为公司工作，但是因为 周一 我来公司的时候，他去上海了，所以我没有看见他。
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他说 周六 可以教我做几个北京菜。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
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最近我 每周 都游两三次，但看电影是我最大的爱好！
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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