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A1 noun Neutral #1,200 most common 2 min read

星期一

xingqiyi ɕiŋ˥ tɕʰi˥ i˥
Practice it Notes & Tips

Overview

The Chinese word for Monday is '星期一' (xīng qī yī). It is constructed from '星期' (xīng qī), meaning 'week', and '一' (yī), which means 'one'. In Chinese culture, the days of the week are typically numbered, with Monday being the first day. This system is straightforward and logical, making it easy for learners to grasp. While '星期' is a common way to say 'week', another common term is '周' (zhōu), so '周一' (zhōu yī) is also a widely used and perfectly acceptable way to say Monday, especially in more casual or written contexts. The character '星' (xīng) literally means 'star', and '期' (qī) means 'period' or 'phase'. Together, '星期' can be understood as a 'starry period' or a 'period of stars', reflecting ancient observations of celestial bodies to mark time. Understanding this etymology can add a layer of appreciation for the language. When speaking, '星期一' is generally pronounced with a natural rhythm, emphasizing each syllable. It's an essential vocabulary item for anyone learning Chinese, as it's used frequently in daily conversations, scheduling, and planning. For example, you might hear '我们星期一见面' (wǒ men xīng qī yī jiàn miàn), meaning 'We will meet on Monday', or '我星期一很忙' (wǒ xīng qī yī hěn máng), meaning 'I am very busy on Monday'. Mastering the days of the week is a fundamental step in building conversational fluency in Mandarin Chinese.

Examples

1

我星期一有一个重要的会议。

Business

I have an important meeting on Monday.

2

你星期一想去哪里吃饭？

Daily life

Where do you want to eat on Monday?

3

商店星期一不营业。

Retail/Shopping

The store is closed on Monday.

4

每个星期一，我都会去健身房。

Habit/Routine

Every Monday, I go to the gym.

5

他们星期一开始了一个新项目。

Work/Project management

They started a new project on Monday.

Common Collocations

星期一早上
星期一晚上
下星期一
每个星期一

Often Confused With

星期一 vs 星期三

Similar pronunciation and stroke order.

Grammar Patterns

星期一 + Verb (e.g., 星期一工作 - work on Monday) 在星期一 + Verb (e.g., 在星期一开会 - have a meeting on Monday)

How to Use It

The most common and standard way to refer to Monday in Mandarin Chinese is '星期一' (xīng qī yī). This term is universally understood and appropriate in all contexts, from formal business settings to casual conversations among friends and family. Another, more traditional way to say Monday, particularly in some southern dialects or older texts, is '禮拜一' (lǐ bài yī). While still understood, '星期一' is generally preferred in contemporary Mandarin. When writing dates, '星期一' is usually placed after the date itself, for example, '十月二十三日 星期一' (Shí yuè èr shí sān rì Xīng qī yī) meaning 'October 23rd, Monday.' It is also frequently used in conjunction with time expressions, such as '星期一早上' (xīng qī yī zǎo shàng) for 'Monday morning' or '星期一晚上' (xīng qī yī wǎn shàng) for 'Monday evening.'

Common Mistakes

A common mistake for English speakers is to directly translate 'Monday' into its component parts, which wouldn't make sense in Chinese. Instead of thinking 'moon day', remember the 'star period' pattern for the days of the week in Chinese. Also, sometimes beginners might confuse the order of '期' and '星', but '星期' (xīngqī) is always the fixed order for 'week'.

Tips

Remembering the word

Think of '星期一' as 'star period one'. The '星' (star) character is often associated with celestial bodies, and '期' (period) refers to a duration of time. '一' (one) simply marks it as the first day.

Common mistake

A common mistake for learners is to forget the '期' character and just say '星一'. Remember that '星期' is the common way to say 'week'.

Usage in context

When referring to a specific Monday, you can say '这个星期一' (zhège xīngqīyī - this Monday) or '上个星期一' (shàngge xīngqīyī - last Monday) or '下个星期一' (xiàge xīngqīyī - next Monday).

Word Origin

From the radical 日 (rì) meaning sun, and 生 (shēng) meaning birth or life, suggesting a celestial body that gives light or is born in the heavens.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, '星期一' (xīng qī yī) literally translates to 'week one,' reflecting a straightforward and logical naming convention for days of the week. Unlike some Western cultures where Monday might carry connotations of the start of the work week or a fresh beginning, in Chinese, its cultural significance is primarily functional. It marks the first day of the standard work or school week, a concept that is universally understood and accepted. There aren't deep historical or mythological associations with '星期一' in the way that, for example, 'Sunday' (Sun's day) or 'Monday' (Moon's day) have in English. Its cultural context is rooted in practicality and the modern Gregorian calendar system, which has been widely adopted in China.

Memory Tip

The first character '星' (xīng) means 'star' or 'heavenly body', and is used in words related to space and time. The second character '期' (qī) means 'period of time' or 'a date'. The third character '一' (yī) means 'one'. So, literally, '星期一' can be thought of as 'star period one', referring to the first day of the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

The Chinese word for Monday is '星期一' (xīng qī yī). In Chinese culture, the days of the week are typically named by combining '星期' (xīng qī), meaning 'week' or 'period,' with a number. So, '星期一' literally translates to 'week one,' signifying the first day of the week.

The pronunciation of '星期一' is 'xīng qī yī.' '星' (xīng) is pronounced like the 'sing' in 'singing' but with a slightly higher, more level tone. '期' (qī) is pronounced like the 'chee' in 'cheese,' also with a relatively level tone. '一' (yī) is pronounced like the 'ee' in 'see,' usually with a high, level tone.

Directly translated, '星期一' means 'Monday' in English. The structure of naming days of the week in Chinese is quite straightforward, often using numbers to denote the sequence of days, with Monday being the first day.

While '星期一' is the most common and standard way to say Monday, you might also hear '周一' (zhōu yī) in more casual or written contexts. '周' (zhōu) also means 'week,' so '周一' similarly means 'week one' or Monday. Both are widely understood and used.

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