Chinese numbers

Days of the week in Chinese

Chinese numbers its weekdays: 星期 ("week") plus a digit. Monday is day one, Saturday is day six, and Sunday has a name of its own.

The seven days

Grammar rule: Days of the week with 星期

Shorter forms: 周 and 礼拜

  • 周 (zhōu) also means "week" and is shorter and a little more formal: 周一 is Monday, 周日 is Sunday. You see it on timetables and signs.
  • 礼拜 (lǐbài) is a colloquial form, common in southern China and Taiwan: 礼拜一 is Monday, 礼拜天 is Sunday.
  • 周末 (zhōumò) is the weekend, Saturday and Sunday.

Asking and answering

今天星期几?

jīntiān xīngqī jǐ?

What day is it today?

今天星期五。

jīntiān xīngqīwǔ.

Today is Friday.

下星期一

xià xīngqīyī

Next Monday

上个星期

shàng ge xīngqī

Last week

More about numbers

Frequently asked questions

How do you say Monday in Chinese?

Monday is 星期一 (xīngqīyī), literally "week one". The short form is 周一 (zhōuyī).

How do you say Sunday in Chinese?

Sunday is 星期天 (xīngqītiān) in speech and 星期日 (xīngqīrì) in writing.

What is the difference between 星期 and 周?

Both mean "week". 星期 is the everyday word; 周 is shorter and more formal: 周一, 周末.

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