When talking about days of the week in Chinese, you'll often encounter a few different patterns. For Saturday, the most common and straightforward way to say it is 星期六 (xīngqīliù). This literally breaks down to 'week six'.
You might also hear 周六 (zhōuliù), which is a slightly more casual and often abbreviated form, especially in spoken Chinese or informal writing. Another less common but still valid way is 礼拜六 (lǐbàiliù), which uses a term for 'week' that has roots in Christian worship, similar to how 'weekend' comes from the end of the week of worship. However, 星期六 is universally understood and the most standard choice.
§ Understanding 星期六 (xīng qī liù)
Alright, let's get straight to it. You're learning Chinese, and knowing the days of the week is super practical. Today, we're focusing on 星期六 (xīng qī liù). This simply means 'Saturday'. No fancy tricks, just a straightforward word you'll use all the time.
- DEFINITION
- Saturday
Think about how often you talk about Saturday in English. You make plans, discuss your weekend, or just mention what you did. It's the same in Chinese. This word is your key to unlocking those kinds of conversations.
§ At Work or School
Even though Saturday is usually a day off, you'll still hear and use 星期六 in work and school contexts. Maybe you have a part-time job, a special event, or just need to clarify a schedule.
我们星期六不上班。
Translation hint: We do not work on Saturday.
学校星期六有活动。
Translation hint: The school has an event on Saturday.
§ Making Plans with Friends
This is where 星期六 really shines. You'll use it constantly for social plans. Whether it's going out to eat, watching a movie, or just hanging out, Saturday is often the day people choose.
Imagine you want to ask a friend if they are free on Saturday:
你星期六有空吗？
Translation hint: Are you free on Saturday?
Or suggesting an activity:
我们星期六去看电影吧。
Translation hint: Let's go watch a movie on Saturday.
§ News and General Conversation
You'll also come across 星期六 in news reports, articles, or just general chats about events or upcoming dates. It's a fundamental time word.
这个活动从星期六开始。
Translation hint: This event starts from Saturday.
See? It's straightforward. The key is to practice using it. Try to incorporate 星期六 into your own sentences. Think about what you usually do on Saturdays and try to express that in Chinese. The more you use it, the more natural it will feel.
Fun Fact
The Chinese word for 'week' (星期 xīngqī) is followed by a number to denote the day of the week, with '天' (tiān) or '日' (rì) for Sunday, and numbers one through six for Monday through Saturday. So, '星期六' literally means 'week six'.
Pronunciation Guide
- Mispronouncing the 'x' sound (like 'sh' in 'she')
- Incorrect tone for 'qī' (first tone, high and flat)
- Incorrect tone for 'liù' (fourth tone, falling)
Difficulty Rating
Common characters, short phrase.
Common characters, short phrase.
Simple pronunciation.
Clear pronunciation.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Chinese uses a numbering system for days of the week, with 星期 (xīngqī) meaning week and a number following it to indicate the day. Saturday is 星期六 (xīngqīliù), literally 'week six'.
今天星期六 (Jīntiān xīngqīliù) - Today is Saturday.
To ask what day of the week it is, you can use 星期几 (xīngqījǐ), where 几 (jǐ) means 'how many' or 'which number'.
今天星期几？(Jīntiān xīngqījǐ?) - What day of the week is it today?
When talking about an activity on Saturday, you place 星期六 before the activity.
我星期六去商店。(Wǒ xīngqīliù qù shāngdiàn.) - I go to the store on Saturday.
You can also use 周六 (zhōuliù) as a more casual way to say Saturday.
周六我们去看电影。(Zhōuliù wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng.) - On Saturday, we go to watch a movie.
To specify last Saturday or next Saturday, you can use 上 (shàng) for last and 下 (xià) for next before 星期六.
上星期六我去了北京。(Shàng xīngqīliù wǒ qù le Běijīng.) - Last Saturday I went to Beijing.
Often Confused With
Both are weekend days, but 星期六 is Saturday and 星期天 is Sunday. Pay attention to the numbers: 六 (liù) for six/Saturday, 天 (tiān) for day/Sunday.
周六 is a more colloquial or informal way to say 'Saturday'. It's essentially the same meaning as 星期六 but used differently in tone/context.
周末 is the entire 'weekend' (Saturday and Sunday), whereas 星期六 is just 'Saturday'. Think of 星期六 as a part of 周末.
Grammar Patterns
Easily Confused
Often confused with 'Saturday' because it refers to the weekend, which includes Saturday. However, it's a broader term.
周末 means 'weekend' (Saturday and Sunday), while 星期六 specifically means 'Saturday'.
我周末很忙。 (Wǒ zhōumò hěn máng.) I am very busy on the weekend.
Both 星期六 and 星期天 refer to days of the weekend, making them easy to mix up if not paying close attention to the number.
星期天 means 'Sunday', whereas 星期六 means 'Saturday'. They are sequential days.
星期天我们去公园。 (Xīngqītiān wǒmen qù gōngyuán.) On Sunday, we go to the park.
The '星期' part is the same, leading learners to think it might be a specific day when it's actually a time frame.
上个星期 means 'last week', while 星期六 is a specific day of the week.
我上个星期去了北京。 (Wǒ shàng ge xīngqī qù le Běijīng.) I went to Beijing last week.
Similar to 上个星期, the '星期' can be misleading. It's important to differentiate between general time periods and specific days.
下个星期 means 'next week', not a specific day like 星期六.
我们下个星期见面。 (Wǒmen xià ge xīngqī jiànmiàn.) We will meet next week.
周日 and 星期六 both refer to weekend days, but 周日 is a more formal or written way to say Sunday.
周日 means 'Sunday' (often in more formal contexts), while 星期六 is 'Saturday'.
周日餐厅不开门。 (Zhōurì cāntīng bù kāimén.) The restaurant is not open on Sunday.
Sentence Patterns
星期六 + verb phrase
星期六我去图书馆。(Saturday I go to the library.)
Subject + 星期六 + verb phrase
我星期六在家。(I am home on Saturday.)
Noun phrase + 在 + 星期六 + verb phrase
他常常在星期六踢足球。(He often plays soccer on Saturday.)
Question word + 星期六 + verb phrase?
你星期六做什么？(What do you do on Saturday?)
Adverb + 星期六 + verb phrase
我们总是星期六见面。(We always meet on Saturday.)
星期六 + 是 + Noun phrase
星期六是我的生日。(Saturday is my birthday.)
从 + Day1 + 到 + Day2
我从星期一到星期六都工作。(I work from Monday to Saturday.)
每 + 星期六 + verb phrase
我每个星期六都学习汉语。(I study Chinese every Saturday.)
Tips
Basic Meaning
星期六 (xīng qī liù) directly translates to Saturday. It's the sixth day of the week in Chinese, following a logical numbering system.
Breaking Down 星期六
星期 (xīng qī) means 'week'. 六 (liù) means 'six'. So, literally, it's 'week six'.
Other Days of the Week
Once you know 星期, learning other days is easy: 星期一 (Monday), 星期二 (Tuesday), 星期三 (Wednesday), 星期四 (Thursday), 星期五 (Friday), 星期日 or 星期天 (Sunday).
Alternative for Sunday
While 星期日 is common, you'll also hear 星期天 (xīng qī tiān) for Sunday. Both are correct and widely used.
Using it in a Sentence
To say 'On Saturday', you can say 在星期六 (zài xīng qī liù) or simply put 星期六 at the beginning of your sentence. For example, 星期六我去商店 (Xīng qī liù wǒ qù shāng diàn) means 'On Saturday I go to the store'.
Asking 'What Day is Today?'
To ask 'What day is today?', you can say 今天星期几？ (Jīn tiān xīng qī jǐ?). The character 几 (jǐ) means 'how many' or 'which number'.
Pronunciation Practice
Focus on the tones: xīng (first tone), qī (first tone), liù (fourth tone). Practice saying them together: xīngqīliù.
Weekend vs. Weekday
周末 (zhōu mò) means 'weekend'. 星期六 is part of the 周末.
Grammar Note: No 'on'
Unlike English where we say 'on Saturday', in Chinese, you can often just use the day of the week directly before the verb. For example, 星期六见面 (Xīng qī liù jiàn miàn) means 'Meet on Saturday'.
Common Phrases
星期六快乐！ (Xīng qī liù kuài lè!) - Happy Saturday!. This is a common greeting.
Word Origin
Chinese characters
Original meaning: week + seven
Sino-TibetanCultural Context
In China, Saturday is part of the weekend and is typically a day off from work and school. It's a popular day for social gatherings, shopping, and leisure activities. Many people use Saturday to relax or pursue hobbies after a busy work week.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Talking about weekend plans
- 你星期六有什么计划？ (What are your plans for Saturday?)
- 我们星期六去公园吧。 (Let's go to the park on Saturday.)
- 星期六你想做什么？ (What do you want to do on Saturday?)
Arranging a meeting or activity
- 我们星期六见面怎么样？ (How about we meet on Saturday?)
- 星期六有空吗？ (Are you free on Saturday?)
- 我们可以星期六一起学习。 (We can study together on Saturday.)
Describing regular occurrences
- 我通常星期六在家休息。 (I usually rest at home on Saturdays.)
- 她每个星期六都去健身房。 (She goes to the gym every Saturday.)
- 我们学校星期六不上课。 (Our school doesn't have classes on Saturdays.)
Making future arrangements
- 下个星期六我会去上海。 (Next Saturday I will go to Shanghai.)
- 希望我们星期六能完成。 (Hope we can finish by Saturday.)
- 我们星期六再聊。 (Let's talk again on Saturday.)
Referring to past events
- 上个星期六我们去看了电影。 (Last Saturday we went to watch a movie.)
- 星期六你过得怎么样？ (How was your Saturday?)
- 我星期六已经完成了。 (I already finished it on Saturday.)
Conversation Starters
"你星期六通常做什么？ (What do you usually do on Saturdays?)"
"这个星期六你有什么计划吗？ (Do you have any plans for this Saturday?)"
"你喜欢星期六吗？为什么？ (Do you like Saturdays? Why?)"
"你上个星期六过得怎么样？ (How was your last Saturday?)"
"你觉得星期六是休息的好日子吗？ (Do you think Saturday is a good day to rest?)"
Journal Prompts
描述你理想中的一个星期六。 (Describe your ideal Saturday.)
写下你上个星期六做的事情，以及你的感受。 (Write down what you did last Saturday and how you felt.)
你对这个星期六有什么期待？ (What are your expectations for this Saturday?)
如果星期六多一天假期，你会怎么安排？ (If Saturday had an extra day off, how would you arrange it?)
你最喜欢星期六的哪一点？ (What do you like most about Saturdays?)
Test Yourself 66 questions
我们通常在___休息。(We usually rest on ___.)
星期六 (xīngqīliù) means Saturday, which is a common day for rest.
你___有空吗？(Are you free on ___?)
星期六 (xīngqīliù) means Saturday. This is a common way to ask if someone is free on a specific day.
我___去超市买东西。(I go to the supermarket to buy things on ___.)
星期六 (xīngqīliù) means Saturday. Many people do their shopping on weekends.
___是周末。(___ is the weekend.)
星期六 (xīngqīliù) is part of the weekend.
我们___见面好吗？(Shall we meet on ___?)
星期六 (xīngqīliù) means Saturday. It's common to suggest meeting on a weekend.
我的生日是下个___。(My birthday is next ___.)
星期六 (xīngqīliù) means Saturday. You can use it to specify a day of the week.
This sentence means 'Today is Saturday.' The most natural order in Chinese is 'Today is Saturday.'
This sentence means 'Where do you go on Saturday?' The structure is 'Subject + Time + Verb + Place?'
This sentence means 'We don't work on Saturday.' The order is 'Subject + Time + Negative + Verb.'
Choose the correct day: 今天是星期五，明天是___。
If today is Friday (星期五), then tomorrow (明天) is Saturday (星期六).
Which day comes after 星期五?
In Chinese, 星期五 is Friday. The day after Friday is Saturday, which is 星期六.
我和朋友计划___去看电影。
This sentence means 'My friends and I plan to go watch a movie on ___.' '星期六' (Saturday) is a common day for weekend activities like watching movies.
星期六是工作日。
星期六 (Saturday) is typically part of the weekend and not a regular workday (工作日).
我们通常在星期六休息。
Yes, people typically rest (休息) on Saturdays (星期六) as it's part of the weekend.
星期六是每周的第七天。
In Chinese, 星期一 (Monday) is the first day, so 星期六 (Saturday) is indeed the seventh day of the week.
What day of the week is mentioned?
What are they doing on Saturday?
What is the speaker asking about Saturday?
Read this aloud:
你星期六做什么？
Focus: xīng qī liù
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我星期六想去公园。
Focus: xīng qī liù
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
星期六是我的休息日。
Focus: xīng qī liù
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
我们通常在___和朋友见面。
The sentence means 'We usually meet friends on ___.' '星期六' (Saturday) is the most common day for social gatherings.
你的生日是哪一天？我的生日在___。
The question asks 'Which day is your birthday?' and the answer 'My birthday is on ___.' '星期六' (Saturday) is a valid day.
这个___，我们打算去公园野餐。
The sentence means 'This ___, we plan to go picnicking in the park.' '星期六' (Saturday) is a common day for weekend activities like picnics.
你___有什么计划？
The sentence asks 'What are your plans for ___?' '星期六' (Saturday) is a common day to ask about weekend plans.
商店在___会开门到很晚。
The sentence means 'The store will stay open late on ___.' Stores often have extended hours on Saturdays for weekend shoppers.
我喜欢在___睡个懒觉。
The sentence means 'I like to sleep in on ___.' '星期六' (Saturday) is a common day for sleeping in as it's part of the weekend.
The correct order is Subject-Time-Verb-Object. '我们' (we) is the subject, '星期六' (Saturday) is the time, '去' (go) is the verb, and '公园' (park) is the object.
The correct order is Subject-Verb-Prepositional Phrase-Verb-Object. '她' (she) is the subject, '喜欢' (likes) is the verb, '在星期六' (on Saturday) is the prepositional phrase, '看' (watch) is the verb, and '电影' (movies) is the object.
The correct order is Subject-Time-Adverb-Verb-Object (Question). '你' (you) is the subject, '星期六' (Saturday) is the time, '通常' (usually) is the adverb, '做' (do) is the verb, and '什么' (what) is the object.
我们通常在___一起吃饭。
这句话的意思是“我们通常在（星期六）一起吃饭”，符合语境。
你___有什么计划吗？
这句话是问“你（星期六）有什么计划吗？”，指未来的安排。
我每周___都会去健身房。
这句话的意思是“我每周（周六）都会去健身房”，表示一个常规的活动。
商店___不开门。
这句话的意思是“商店（星期六）不开门”，表示商店的营业时间。
他___要去参加一个婚礼。
这句话是说“他（星期六）要去参加一个婚礼”，描述未来的计划。
我最喜欢___，因为不用上班。
这句话的意思是“我最喜欢（星期六），因为不用上班”，表达了对周末的喜好。
This sentence means 'We go to the park on Saturday.' The correct order is Subject (我们) + Time (星期六) + Verb (去) + Object (公园).
This sentence asks 'What do you usually do on Saturday mornings?' The time phrase (星期六 早上) usually comes after the subject (你) and before the adverb (通常) and verb (做).
This sentence means 'She doesn't work on Saturday.' In Chinese, the time expression (星期六) often comes before the negation (不) and the verb (工作).
鉴于项目进度的紧迫性，我们恐怕无法在 之前完成所有准备工作。
这句话的语境表明项目进度非常紧张，所以完成准备工作的截止日期应该是一个迫在眉睫的日子，即“星期六”。
尽管面临重重挑战，公司的研发团队仍旧夜以继日地工作，力求在 之前发布新产品。
句子强调了团队“夜以继日”的工作，这暗示了一个紧迫的发布日期。在所给选项中，“星期六”是一个合理的选项，表示可能需要加班加点才能在周末前完成。
为了确保活动的顺利进行，所有参与者务必在 下午三点前抵达会场。
这是一个通知，告知参与者抵达会场的时间。选项“星期六”符合日常活动安排的语境，通常周末会有大型活动。
由于天气原因，原定于本周 举行的户外音乐节已被推迟。
户外音乐节通常在周末举行，以方便更多人参加。因此，“星期六”是一个非常符合情境的选项。
这部电影的全球首映式定于下周 举行，届时导演和主要演员都会出席。
电影首映式通常会选择在周末举行，以吸引更多观众和媒体关注，因此“星期六”是最合适的选项。
考虑到周末交通的拥堵情况，我们建议提前出发，以避免在 抵达目的地。
句子中提到了“周末交通的拥堵情况”，这直接提示了要填写的日期是“星期六”，因为这是周末的第一天，交通通常会比较繁忙。
Imagine you have a busy schedule next week. Write a short paragraph in Chinese detailing what you plan to do on Saturday, including at least three different activities. Use '星期六' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
下个星期六我有很多事情要做。上午我打算去健身房锻炼身体。下午我和朋友约好了一起看电影。晚上我们可能会去一家新开的餐厅吃饭，尝尝那里的特色菜。这是一个充实的星期六。
Describe a memorable Saturday from your past in Chinese. What made it memorable? What did you do? How did you feel?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我记得一个非常难忘的星期六。那天我和家人一起去了海边，天气非常好，阳光明媚。我们游泳、玩沙滩排球，还吃了美味的海鲜烧烤。我感到非常放松和快乐，那个星期六的每一个细节都深深印在我的脑海里。
Write a short email or message to a Chinese friend inviting them to do something with you next Saturday. Suggest at least two options for activities.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
你好，小王！下个星期六你有什么安排吗？我打算去市中心的博物馆看一个新展览，或者我们也可以去咖啡馆聊聊天。你觉得哪个更好？期待你的回复！
根据短文，王明每个星期六都去图书馆吗？
Read this passage:
王明每个星期六都会去图书馆学习。他认为图书馆环境安静，有助于他集中精力。有时候，他也会约朋友一起去图书馆，他们会互相讨论学习上的问题，共同进步。但不是每一个星期六他都去图书馆，偶尔他也会选择去户外放松身心，比如爬山或者去公园散步。
根据短文，王明每个星期六都去图书馆吗？
短文中提到“但不是每一个星期六他都去图书馆，偶尔他也会选择去户外放松身心”，所以不是每个星期六都去。
短文中提到“但不是每一个星期六他都去图书馆，偶尔他也会选择去户外放松身心”，所以不是每个星期六都去。
为什么李丽选择在星期六加班？
Read this passage:
李丽的公司实行弹性工作制，所以她通常在星期六选择加班，以便在周一到周五有更多时间处理私事。她的同事们对此感到不解，因为大部分人都会选择在星期六休息。李丽解释说，她喜欢在周末完成工作，这样平时就可以享受生活了。
为什么李丽选择在星期六加班？
短文中明确提到“她通常在星期六选择加班，以便在周一到周五有更多时间处理私事”。
短文中明确提到“她通常在星期六选择加班，以便在周一到周五有更多时间处理私事”。
张老师的家庭星期六晚上通常会做什么？
Read this passage:
张老师的家庭有一个传统，每个星期六晚上他们都会聚在一起做饭。有时候是饺子，有时候是火锅，偶尔也会尝试一些新的菜肴。这个传统已经持续了十多年，不仅增进了家人之间的感情，也让他们的星期六充满了家的味道。即使孩子们长大了，也依然会尽量回家参与这个活动。
张老师的家庭星期六晚上通常会做什么？
短文中提到“每个星期六晚上他们都会聚在一起做饭”。
短文中提到“每个星期六晚上他们都会聚在一起做饭”。
This sentence means 'The celebration was postponed until Saturday.' In Chinese, the time phrase often comes before the verb.
This sentence translates to 'The conference on sustainable development will be held on Saturday.' The structure '关于...的会议' is common for specialized topics.
This sentence means 'They reviewed the complexity of the project on Saturday.' The time phrase can sometimes appear at the end for emphasis, especially in spoken Chinese.
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning
星期六 (xīng qī liù) directly translates to Saturday. It's the sixth day of the week in Chinese, following a logical numbering system.
Breaking Down 星期六
星期 (xīng qī) means 'week'. 六 (liù) means 'six'. So, literally, it's 'week six'.
Other Days of the Week
Once you know 星期, learning other days is easy: 星期一 (Monday), 星期二 (Tuesday), 星期三 (Wednesday), 星期四 (Thursday), 星期五 (Friday), 星期日 or 星期天 (Sunday).
Alternative for Sunday
While 星期日 is common, you'll also hear 星期天 (xīng qī tiān) for Sunday. Both are correct and widely used.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
