下 xià — under; second (of two parts); next (week; etc.); lower; below
请把书放在桌子下面。Qǐng bǎ shū fàng zài zhuō zi xià mian.Please put the book under the table.
Common words: 下午 (xià wǔ)、下次 (xià cì)、下班 (xià bān)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "week"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "week", including 下 (xià), 周 (zhōu). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "week" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 下 (xià), 周 (zhōu) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xià, zhōu — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 下 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 下 xiàunder; second (of two parts); next (week; etc.); lower; belowUseful words: 下午, 下次
- 周 zhōu(surname); complete; encircle; circuit; lap; weekUseful words: 周末, 上周
Common words for these 2 "week" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 下 (xià) — so "week" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "week".
周 zhōu — (surname); complete; encircle; circuit; lap; week
这个周末我们去爬山。Zhè ge zhōu mò wǒ men qù pá shān.This weekend we are going hiking.
Common words: 周末 (zhōu mò)、上周 (shàng zhōu)、周年 (zhōu nián)
All 2 characters
Open 下、周 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.