Meaning of 周
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- week
- weekly
- variant of 周[zhou1]
- to make a circuit
- to circle
- circle
- circumference
- lap
- cycle
- complete
- all
- surname Zhou
- Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC)
How to use 周
周 (zhōu) most often means week, especially in compounds like 周末 (zhōumò, weekend), 上周 (shàng zhōu, last week) and 下周 (xià zhōu, next week). It also means around or all around, as in 周围 (zhōuwéi) and 四周 (sìzhōu). Example: 我下周去北京。(Wǒ xià zhōu qù Běijīng.) I am going to Beijing next week.
Picture 周 (zhōu) as a fence 冂 wrapped around a little field with 吉 inside. Something that goes all the way around makes a circle, and a week is one full circle of days.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 周 (zhōu) with 用 (yòng) or 同 (tóng), which share a similar outer frame. Also note that 周 never has a dot or hook at the top like 舟 (zhōu, boat), even though they sound the same.
周 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
周 zhōu · week · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 周.
| 周末 | zhōumò | weekend |
| 下周 | xià zhōu | next week |
| 上周 | shàng zhōu | last week |
| 周年 | zhōunián | anniversary; annual |
| 周围 | zhōuwéi | environs; surroundings; periphery |
| 四周 | sìzhōu | all around |
| 周期 | zhōuqī | period; cycle |
| 周到 | zhōudào | thoughtful; considerate |
| 周边 | zhōubiān | periphery; rim; perimeter; surroundings; (computing) (attributive) peripheral |
| 众所周知 | zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī | (idiom) as everyone knows |
| 周旋 | zhōuxuán | to mix with others; to socialize |
| 周密 | zhōumì | careful; thorough; meticulous |
Questions about 周
What does 周 mean?
周 (zhōu) means "week; weekly" and is used as a measure word.
How do you write 周?
周 is made of 1 character: 周 (8 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 周 an HSK word?
Yes. 周 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 周 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 周 is written 週.
What is the difference between 周, 星期 and 礼拜 for week?
All three mean week. 星期 (xīngqī) is the most common in speech, as in 星期一 (Monday). 周 (zhōu) sounds a bit more formal or written and is shorter in compounds, while 礼拜 (lǐbài) is more colloquial and regional.
Can I say 周一 for Monday?
Yes. 周一 (zhōuyī) through 周六 (zhōuliù) mean Monday through Saturday, and Sunday is 周日 (zhōurì). These forms are very common on schedules, signs and in writing.