下周
xiàzhōu
In Chinese, the phrase for "next week" is 下周 (xiàzhōu).
The phrase refers to the week immediately following the current one.
Meaning: week after this one (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 下 (xià), meaning 'below' or 'next' and 周 (zhōu), meaning 'week'.
Which one should you use?
下周 (xiàzhōu) means 'next week', whereas 上周 (shàngzhōu) means 'last week'. The characters 上 (shàng, 'above') and 下 (xià, 'below') are used to denote the relative order of time.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, time phrases like 下周 are typically placed before the verb or at the very beginning of the sentence, unlike in English where the phrase can function as a subject or an object.
How do you pronounce it?
xiàzhōu
Did you know?
- The word 星期 (xīngqī) used in 下个星期 literally means 'star period'. This refers to the seven celestial bodies, including the sun and moon, that define the week.
- The term 礼拜 (lǐbài), an alternative for 'week' used in 下个礼拜, comes from the word for 'worship'. This reflects the historical influence of Christianity and the Sabbath on the Chinese concept of a seven-day cycle.
- While 下周 uses a vertical logic, the word for 'next year' 明年 uses the character 明, meaning 'bright'. This shifts the metaphor from a vertical flow to the dawn of a new day.
Examples in context
- 课程下周开始。Classes begin next week.This sentence shows how to use 下周 to indicate when a recurring event begins.Tatoeba #2694357 by sadhen, translation #881014 by CK
- 我想讓你下周回來。I'd like you to come back next week.This sentence demonstrates using 下周 to express a desire for someone to return at a specific time.Tatoeba #6080276 by verdastelo9604, translation #2018837 by CK
- 我下周会去见他们。I will see them next week.This sentence shows how to place 下周 within a sentence to indicate a future plan.Tatoeba #9955828 by GlossaMatik, translation #773239 by marloncori
- 我们的会议安排在下个星期三。Our meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday.
- 我们将在下周开始新的项目。We will start a new project next week.
- 下礼拜我们去看电影吧！Let's go watch a movie next week!
- 下周我们一起去爬山，好吗？Let's go hiking together next week, okay?
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing their schedules in the office.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你下周有空吗？Hàorán, nǐ xiàzhōu yǒu kòng ma?Haoran, are you free next week?
- 浩然 Haoran下周我挺忙的。Xiàzhōu wǒ tǐng máng de.I am quite busy next week.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我们改到下下周吧。Nà wǒmen gǎi dào xiàxiàzhōu ba.Then let's change it to the week after next.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，没问题。Hǎo de, méi wèntí.Okay, no problem.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
