Learning how to say the days of the week in Chinese is a great way to expand your language skills and communicate more effectively. In this guide, we will explore both the formal and informal ways of expressing the days of the week in Mandarin Chinese, with some useful tips and examples to help you along the way. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways of Saying the Days of the Week
In formal Mandarin Chinese, the days of the week are straightforward. Here is a list of the days and their corresponding translations:
- Monday – 星期一 (xīngqī yī)
- Tuesday – 星期二 (xīngqī èr)
- Wednesday – 星期三 (xīngqī sān)
- Thursday – 星期四 (xīngqī sì)
- Friday – 星期五 (xīngqī wǔ)
- Saturday – 星期六 (xīngqī liù)
- Sunday – 星期日 or 星期天 (xīngqī rì / xīngqī tiān)
When using these formal expressions, you will be easily understood by all Chinese speakers, regardless of their regional variations.
Informal Ways of Saying the Days of the Week
Informal expressions for the days of the week may vary from region to region within China, but we will focus on the most widely used ones:
- Monday – 周一 (zhōu yī)
- Tuesday – 周二 (zhōu èr)
- Wednesday – 周三 (zhōu sān)
- Thursday – 周四 (zhōu sì)
- Friday – 周五 (zhōu wǔ)
- Saturday – 周六 (zhōu liù)
- Sunday – 周日 or 周天 (zhōu rì / zhōu tiān)
These informal expressions are widely used in daily conversations and are easily understood by native speakers. They are less formal than the previous expressions but still widely accepted in all regions.
Examples and Usage Tips
Now, let’s see some examples and usage tips to help you effectively use the days of the week in Chinese:
Example: 明天是星期一。
Translation: Tomorrow is Monday.
Usage Tip: When referring to a specific day, always use “是” (shì) before stating the day of the week.
Example: 我们下个星期五去看电影，好吗？
Translation: Shall we go watch a movie next Friday?
Usage Tip: To express future plans or arrangements, use “下个” (xiàge) before mentioning the day of the week.
Example: 他们每个星期天都和家人共进晚餐。
Translation: They have dinner with their family every Sunday.
Usage Tip: The word “每个” (měige) means “every” and is commonly used when talking about recurring activities on a specific day of the week.
Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you use these expressions in conversations, the more natural they will become. Don’t be afraid to immerse yourself in Chinese language materials to further familiarize yourself with the days of the week.
So, whether you are discussing your plans for the week or making arrangements, knowing how to express the days of the week in Chinese will surely impress your Chinese-speaking friends or colleagues.
Keep up the great work and enjoy your language learning journey!
