上旬

• Pinyin: shàng xún
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = 一 + 卜 (first/upper); 旬 = 勹 + 日 (ten-day period)

Meaning

The first ten days of a month. One of three equal divisions of a month in Chinese calendar usage.

Chinese months are traditionally divided into 上旬 (1st–10th), 中旬 (11th–20th), and 下旬 (21st–end). Common in formal scheduling, official announcements, and news reports.

Examples

1. 项目将于下个月上旬正式启动。 The project will officially kick off in the first ten days of next month.
2. 文件必须在本月上旬提交完毕。 The documents must be submitted by the first ten days of this month.
3. 他计划在三月上旬返回北京。 He plans to return to Beijing in early March.

Usage Guide

Context: scheduling, official communications, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 报告须在五月上旬前提交至财务部。(The report must be submitted to the finance department by early May.)
• 演唱会门票将于本月上旬开始售卖。(Concert tickets will go on sale in the first ten days of this month.)

Don't Say

• 用上旬代替月初在英文翻译中 — 上旬 specifically means days 1–10, not just 'early in the month'

Origin & History

上 (upper/first) + 旬 (ten-day period) — the first ten-day period of a month

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal