中旬

• Pinyin: zhōng xún
• Hanzi breakdown: 中 = middle; 旬 = 勹 + 日 (enclosing + sun — ten-day cycle)

Meaning

The middle ten days of a month; mid-month. Days 11-20 of any month.

Part of the traditional Chinese month division: 上旬 (1st-10th), 中旬 (11th-20th), 下旬 (21st-end). Used in formal writing, news reports, and scheduling. More precise than saying 'mid-month' in English.

Examples

1. 预计这场雨季将持续到六月中旬才会结束。 This rainy season is expected to last until mid-June before it ends.
2. 新产品计划在下个月中旬正式发布上市。 The new product is scheduled to officially launch in mid-month next month.
3. 他将于十月中旬出访东南亚三国。 He will visit three Southeast Asian countries in mid-October.

Usage Guide

Context: scheduling, news, official documents

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 报告将在本月中旬提交审议。(The report will be submitted for review in the middle of this month.)
• 樱花通常在三月中旬到四月上旬盛开。(Cherry blossoms usually bloom in full from mid-March to early April.)

Don't Say

• 我在中旬生日 — acceptable but sounds formal; in casual speech, just say 我十五号生日 with the specific date

Origin & History

中 (middle) + 旬 (ten-day period)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal