Days Of The Week In Chinese & How to Say Them (Full Guide)

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Written By Jessica Knight

Founder of Linguatics. Passionate multilinguist.

Are you interested in learning how to say, use, and remember the days of the week in Chinese? Look no further!

In this article, we will guide you through the pronunciation and usage of each day, as well as provide helpful tips on memorization.

Whether you’re a beginner or already have some knowledge of Mandarin, this article will provide you with the tools you need to confidently navigate the days of the week in Chinese.

So, let’s dive in and start expanding your language skills!

Monday – 星期一 (xīngqī yī)

Now, let me tell you how you can easily remember how to say Monday in Mandarin.

In Mandarin Chinese, Monday is pronounced as ‘xīngqī yī.’

To remember this, you can break down the pronunciation into two parts. The first part, ‘xīngqī,’ sounds like ‘sing-chee’ and means ‘week.’ The second part, ‘yī,’ sounds like ‘ee’ and means ‘one.’

So, when you put them together, ‘xīngqī yī’ literally translates to ‘week one’ or Monday.

To reinforce this, you can associate the word ‘sing’ with the start of the week, just like Monday is the start of the week. By breaking down the pronunciation and making a mental connection, you’ll be able to remember how to say Monday in Mandarin easily.

Tuesday – 星期二 (xīngqī èr)

Don’t miss out on learning how to say and use Tuesday in Mandarin! In Mandarin, Tuesday is called 星期二 (xīngqī èr).

To say Tuesday, simply say ‘xīngqī èr’. It’s important to note that 星期 (xīngqī) means ‘week’ and 二 (èr) means ‘two’. Just like in English, Tuesday is the second day of the week in Mandarin.

When using Tuesday in Mandarin, you can use it in various situations. For example, you can use it to ask someone what day it is by saying ‘Jīntiān xīngqī èr ma?’ which means ‘Is today Tuesday?’.

You can also use it to make plans or schedule appointments by saying ‘Wǒmen kěyǐ zài xīngqī èr jiàn miàn ma?’ which means ‘Can we meet on Tuesday?’.

To remember how to say Tuesday in Mandarin, you can try associating it with the sound ‘er’. You can imagine saying ‘xīngqī èr’ while pointing to the second day of the week. This visual and auditory association can help you remember the word more easily.

So go ahead and practice saying and using Tuesday in Mandarin!

Wednesday – 星期三 (xīngqī sān)

Wednesday, known as 星期三 (xīngqī sān) in Mandarin, is an important day of the week.

In Chinese culture, each day is associated with specific elements and animals, and Wednesday is associated with the element of wood and the animal known as the rabbit.

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To ask someone if they are available to meet on Wednesday, you can say ‘xīngqī sān nǐ kěyǐ jiànmiàn ma?’ (星期三你可以见面吗?).

It is important to note that in Mandarin, the days of the week are usually preceded by the term ‘xīngqī’ (星期). So, next time you want to schedule a meeting for Wednesday, remember to use the phrase ‘xīngqī sān’ to indicate the specific day of the week.

Thursday – 星期四 (xīngqī sì)

Thursday, known as 星期四 (xīngqī sì) in Mandarin, holds the significance of the element of fire and the animal known as the horse.

In Chinese culture, the element of fire represents passion, energy, and transformation, while the horse symbolizes freedom, power, and success.

Thursday is considered a day filled with vibrant energy and opportunities for growth and progress. To say ‘Thursday’ in Mandarin, simply use the phrase ‘星期四 (xīngqī sì)’ in conversations or when referring to the day.

It is important to note that Mandarin uses a different numbering system for days of the week, where Monday is considered the first day. Remembering the pronunciation can be made easier by breaking it down into smaller parts: ‘xīngqī’ sounds like ‘shing chee,’ and ‘sì’ sounds like ‘suh.’

Embrace the fiery energy of Thursday and make the most of the day ahead!

Friday – 星期五 (xīngqī wǔ)

TGIF! Friday, known as 星期五 (xīngqī wǔ) in Mandarin, is a day filled with excitement and anticipation for the weekend ahead.

In Chinese culture, Friday is a significant day as it marks the end of the workweek and the start of leisure time. People often celebrate by going out with friends or family to enjoy a delicious meal or engage in recreational activities.

It is also a popular day for shopping and entertainment, with many stores and theaters offering special promotions and events.

Additionally, Friday is an important day for students as it signifies the end of a school week and the beginning of a weekend break.

So, embrace the joy and energy of 星期五 as you look forward to a well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Saturday – 星期六 (xīngqī liù)

Now that you’ve learned how to say ‘Friday’ in Mandarin, let’s move on to the next day of the week: Saturday. In Mandarin, Saturday is called ‘星期六’ (xīngqī liù).

To use this phrase, simply combine the words ‘星期’ (xīngqī), which means ‘week,’ and ‘六’ (liù), which means ‘six.’ This makes sense since Saturday is the sixth day of the week.

To remember how to say ‘Saturday’ in Mandarin, you can associate it with the number six. Think of the six days of the workweek, with Saturday being the last day before the weekend.

Remember to practice saying ‘星期六’ (xīngqī liù) out loud to improve your pronunciation. With time and practice, you’ll be able to confidently use Mandarin to talk about the days of the week.

Sunday – 星期日/星期天 (xīngqī rì/xīngqī tiān)

Don’t miss out on the perfect way to wrap up your weekend – learn how to say ‘Sunday’ in Mandarin!

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In Mandarin Chinese, there are two ways to say ‘Sunday’: 星期日 (xīngqī rì) and 星期天 (xīngqī tiān). Both terms are commonly used and can be used interchangeably.

The character 星期 (xīngqī) means ‘week’ and is followed by the character 日 (rì) or 天 (tiān), which both mean ‘day’.

It’s important to note that 星期日 (xīngqī rì) is more commonly used in written form, while 星期天 (xīngqī tiān) is more commonly used in spoken form.

To remember how to say ‘Sunday’ in Mandarin, you can associate the character 星 (xīng), which means ‘star’, with the start of a new week, and the character 日 (rì) or 天 (tiān), which means ‘day’, with Sunday.

So, next time someone asks you what day it is, you can confidently respond with ‘星期日/星期天’!

Using Days of the Week in Sentences

During the weekend, it’s customary to plan outings or gatherings with friends, making use of the diverse vocabulary for the days of the week in Mandarin.

When using the days of the week in sentences, it’s important to remember that the word ‘xingqi’ meaning ‘week’ is often used before the specific day. For example, if you want to say ‘on Monday,’ you would say ‘xingqi yi.’

Additionally, if you want to say ‘on Sunday,’ you can use either ‘xingqi ri’ or ‘xingqi tian.’ The word ‘ri’ means ‘day’ and ‘tian’ means ‘sky,’ so both are acceptable.

It’s also common to use the word ‘zai’ meaning ‘on’ before stating the day. For instance, you can say ‘wo zai xingqi wu qu chi fan’ which means ‘I will go out to eat on Friday.’

Remembering these rules will help you confidently use the days of the week in Mandarin conversations.

Talking about Future Plans

Let’s chat about our plans for the weekend in the upcoming days! It’s always exciting to look forward to the weekend and make plans for how to spend our free time.

When talking about future plans, we can use the days of the week in Mandarin to indicate when an event or activity will take place.

For example, if you want to say ‘I will go shopping on Saturday,’ you can say ‘Wo xingqi liu qu gouwu.’ To express going to the movies on Sunday, you can say ‘Wo xingqi tian qu kan dianying.’

It’s important to remember that the days of the week in Mandarin are written with the character ‘xingqi’ before the number. So, whether you’re planning to relax at home or explore new places, using the days of the week will help you communicate your future plans effectively.

Arranging Meetings and Appointments

To arrange a meeting or appointment, you can use the following phrases in Mandarin Chinese:

  • Start by saying ‘让我们安排一个会议’ (ràng wǒmen ānpái yīgè huìyì), which means ‘Let’s schedule a meeting.’
  • Specify the date by saying ‘明天’ (míngtiān), which means ‘tomorrow.’
  • Suggest a time using phrases like ‘早上九点’ (zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn), which means ‘9 a.m.,’ or ‘下午三点半’ (xiàwǔ sān diǎn bàn), which means ‘3:30 p.m.’
  • End the sentence by saying ‘以便讨论即将到来的项目’ (yǐbiàn tǎolùn jí jiāng dàolái de xiàngmù), which means ‘so we can discuss the upcoming project.’
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Remember to confirm the meeting details and be punctual.

Describing Recurring Events

Now that you’ve learned how to arrange meetings and appointments in Mandarin, let’s move on to describing recurring events. This is an important skill to have when talking about weekly or monthly activities.

To describe recurring events, you need to know the days of the week in Mandarin. In Mandarin, the days of the week are 星期一 (xīngqī yī) for Monday, 星期二 (xīngqī èr) for Tuesday, and so on.

To remember them easily, you can break down the characters. For example, 星期一 (xīngqī yī) means ‘week,’ ‘sun,’ ‘day,’ so it can be understood as the first day of the week. Similarly, 星期二 (xīngqī èr) means ‘week,’ ‘star,’ ‘day,’ which represents the second day of the week.

By understanding the meanings behind the characters, you can easily remember the days of the week in Mandarin.

Asking for Someone’s Availability

Imagine effortlessly finding out when someone is free without any hassle!

When asking for someone’s availability in Mandarin Chinese, there are a few key phrases you can use.

To start, you can ask ‘Nǐ shénme shíhou kòng?’ which translates to ‘When are you free?’ This straightforward question allows you to directly inquire about the person’s schedule.

Another useful phrase is ‘Nǐ zhè ge xīngqī jǐ kòng?’ which means ‘Which days of the week are you free?’ This question gives the person the opportunity to specify their availability on specific days.

Additionally, you can ask ‘Nǐ zhè ge xīngqī jǐ tiān kòng?’ which translates to ‘How many days are you free this week?’ This question allows for a more detailed response, providing you with a better understanding of the person’s schedule.

By using these phrases, you can easily inquire about someone’s availability in Mandarin Chinese.

Practicing and Reinforcing Your Knowledge

Now that you’ve learned some mnemonic devices and memory tricks to help you remember the days of the week in Mandarin Chinese, it’s time to practice and reinforce your knowledge.

By regularly using and reviewing the vocabulary, you can solidify your understanding and improve your retention.

One effective way to practice is by incorporating the days of the week into your daily routine. For example, you can label objects in your home with the corresponding day of the week and make an effort to use the words when talking about those objects.

Additionally, you can create flashcards or use language-learning apps to test yourself regularly. Consistency is key, so try to incorporate the days of the week into your daily life and you’ll master them in no time.

Days Of The Week In Chinese – Conclusion

Learning the days of the week in Chinese is essential for effective communication and scheduling.

By memorizing the pronunciations of each day and practicing their usage, you will be able to confidently ask for someone’s availability and make plans.

Additionally, mnemonic devices and memory tricks can greatly aid in retaining this information.

Remember, consistency and practice are key to reinforcing your knowledge. So don’t hesitate to review and practice regularly to master the days of the week in Mandarin Chinese.

Happy learning!

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