How to Say “Week” in Mandarin Chinese

Learning how to say “week” in Mandarin Chinese is an essential step towards mastering the language. Whether you are a beginner or already have some knowledge of Mandarin, this guide will help you understand the formal and informal ways of expressing “week” in Mandarin. Although there are no significant regional variations, we will cover everything you need to know. Let’s dive in!

Formal Ways to Say “Week” in Mandarin

When it comes to formal expressions, Mandarin Chinese offers a couple of options to refer to the concept of a “week.” Here are the most commonly used terms:

1. Xīngqī (星期): This is the most popular and widely recognized term for “week” in Mandarin Chinese. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as official documents, news reports, and business settings. For example, “I work from Monday to Friday” would be “Wǒ xīngqī yī dào xīngqīwǔ shàngbān” (我星期一到星期五上班).
2. Zhōu (周): Another formal way to express “week” is by using the term “zhōu.” This term is less commonly used than “xīngqī” but still considered appropriate in formal situations. For instance, “I have a meeting next week” can be translated as “Wǒ xià zhōu yǒu yīgè huìyì” (我下周有一个会议).

Informal Ways to Say “Week” in Mandarin

Informal expressions are commonly used in daily conversations and interactions. While Mandarin Chinese offers flexibility in informal language, here are the two most commonly used terms for “week” in casual conversations:

1. Zhōu (周): Similar to its use in formal contexts, “zhōu” can also be used informally. This term is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal situations. For example, you could say “How was your week?” as “Nǐ zhōu guò de zěnmeyàng?” (你周过得怎么样？).
2. Xīngqī (星期): Although primarily used in formal settings, “xīngqī” can also be used in informal conversations. However, it might sound slightly more formal to native Mandarin speakers. For instance, you can ask “What are you doing this weekend?” as “Zhè zhōumò nǐ xīngqīnǐ yǒu shénme jǐhuà?” (这周末你有什么计划？).

More Tips and Examples

Here are additional tips and examples to enhance your understanding of how to say “week” in Mandarin Chinese:

Tip: The term “xīngqī” is derived from the Chinese characters “星” (xīng), meaning “star,” and “期” (qī), meaning “period.” Together, they describe a time period based on the rotation of stars.

1. When using the term “xīngqī,” remember to add the specific day of the week right after it. For example, “Monday” is “xīngqīyī” (星期一) and “Sunday” is “xīngqīrì” (星期日).

2. If you want to mention a day within a week explicitly, you can say the day and then use the word “liǎng” (两) to indicate “this” or “next.” For example, “this Thursday” is “jīntiān/xià xīngqīsì” (今天/下星期四), and “next Monday” is “xià/ge xīngqīyī” (下/个星期一).

3. To express the concept of “the weekend,” use the term “zhōumò” (周末). For example, “I love relaxing on the weekends” translates to “Wǒ ài zài zhōumò xiūxi” (我爱在周末休息).

4. When referring to a specific week, you can add the word for “last” or “next” before “week” to clarify the time frame. For example, “last week” is “shàngge/xiàge xīngqī” (上/下个星期).

Remember, practicing these terms and expressions in conversation or writing will help you become more confident and natural when speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Now that you have learned the formal and informal ways to say “week” in Mandarin Chinese, take advantage of your new knowledge to better engage with native Mandarin speakers and deepen your language learning journey. Good luck!