周末

• Pinyin: zhōu mò
• Hanzi breakdown: 周 = enclosure suggesting a full cycle; 末 = 木 (tree) with a mark at the top, meaning 'tip/end'

Meaning

Weekend. Saturday and Sunday.

A very commonly used word in daily conversation. China standardised a two-day weekend in 1995. Before that, only Sunday was a rest day. 周末 is the standard way to refer to the weekend.

Examples

1. 周末你有什么打算？ What are your plans for the weekend?
2. 我周末常常在家看电影。 I often watch movies at home on weekends.
3. 这个周末我们一起吃饭吧。 Let's eat together this weekend.

Usage Guide

Context: time, social

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你周末有空吗？(Are you free this weekend?)
• 周末我想好好休息。(I want to rest well this weekend.)

Don't Say

• 每个周末天我都睡到很晚。(Don't add 天 after 周末 — 周末 already means 'weekend days.' Say 每个周末我都睡到很晚.)

Origin & History

Compound of 周 (week) and 末 (end), literally 'end of the week.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal