měi zhōu: 每周 - Every Week, Weekly

• Keywords: měi zhōu, 每周, every week in Chinese, how to say weekly in Chinese, Chinese word for weekly, Chinese frequency adverbs, meizhou, 每个星期, měi ge xīngqī, Chinese schedules and routines.
• Summary: Learn how to use 每周 (měi zhōu), the essential Chinese term for “every week” or “weekly.” This page breaks down its simple meaning, cultural context, and practical use in forming sentences about routines, habits, and schedules. Understand the difference between 每周 (měi zhōu) and its common synonym 每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī) to speak more naturally about your weekly plans.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): měi zhōu
• Part of Speech: Adverbial phrase (Time word)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: Happening once every week; on a weekly basis.
• In a Nutshell: 每周 (měi zhōu) is a straightforward and fundamental term used to describe any action or event that repeats on a seven-day cycle. It's formed by combining “every” (每) and “week” (周). You'll use it constantly when talking about your schedule, hobbies, work, or any regular habit, like going to the gym, calling your family, or watching a favorite TV show.

• 每 (měi): This character means “every” or “each.” It depicts a person (人) over a symbol for a mother (母), originally conveying the idea of 'each' individual. It's a prefix used to indicate every unit of a given measure (e.g., every day, every person, every month).
• 周 (zhōu): This character means “week,” “cycle,” or “circumference.” The character's shape originally depicted a field with crops, perhaps implying a cycle of planting or a complete circuit. In modern Chinese, it's the standard character for the seven-day week.
• When combined, 每周 (měi zhōu) literally and logically translates to “every week” or “every cycle,” making it a very easy term to remember.

While 每周 (měi zhōu) itself is a simple time word, it reflects the modern, globalized rhythm of life in China. The seven-day week is a relatively recent adoption, standardized alongside the Gregorian calendar for business and administration. Historically, Chinese life was structured around the lunar calendar (农历 nónglì), with time measured in lunar months and 24 solar terms (节气 jiéqì) that guided agriculture. The concept of a repeating seven-day cycle with a dedicated “weekend” was not a traditional part of Chinese culture. Today, however, the “weekly” structure is dominant. The work week (Monday-Friday) and the weekend (周末 zhōumò) are as fundamental to urban life in China as they are in the West. Therefore, using 每周 (měi zhōu) is essential for discussing modern work culture, school schedules, social plans, and media consumption (e.g., “the show airs weekly”). It signifies participation in the modern, globalized tempo of daily life.

每周 (měi zhōu) is used as a time adverb to state the frequency of an action. A crucial grammar point for beginners is that, like other time words in Chinese, it is typically placed before the verb.

• Structure: Subject + 每周 (měi zhōu) + Verb + Object.
• Example: 我 每周 看一部电影。(Wǒ měi zhōu kàn yī bù diànyǐng.) - I every week watch a movie.

It is used in all contexts, from very informal conversation to formal business reports.

• Informal: Talking about hobbies, chores, or calling family.
• Formal: Describing business operations, such as “weekly reports” (每周报告 měi zhōu bàogào) or “weekly meetings” (每周例会 měi zhōu lìhuì).

It has a neutral connotation; it simply states a fact about frequency.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司每周一开会。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī měi zhōu yī kāihuì.
  • English: Our company has a meeting every Monday.
  • Analysis: This shows how 每周 can be combined with a specific day (一, for Monday) to mean “every Monday.”
• Example 2:
  • 我每周都给父母打个电话。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi zhōu dōu gěi fùmǔ dǎ ge diànhuà.
  • English: I call my parents every week.
  • Analysis: The word 都 (dōu) is often added after the time phrase to add emphasis, translating to “in all cases” or “without exception.”
• Example 3:
  • 你每周去几次健身房？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi zhōu qù jǐ cì jiànshēnfáng?
  • English: How many times do you go to the gym every week?
  • Analysis: This is a common question structure to ask about the frequency of a weekly habit.
• Example 4:
  • 这个播客每周更新。
  • Pinyin: Zhège bōkè měi zhōu gēngxīn.
  • English: This podcast updates weekly.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence you might see in an app or on a website.
• Example 5:
  • 她每周至少花十个小时学习中文。
  • Pinyin: Tā měi zhōu zhìshǎo huā shí gè xiǎoshí xuéxí Zhōngwén.
  • English: She spends at least ten hours every week studying Chinese.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates using 每周 with other adverbs like 至少 (zhìshǎo), meaning “at least.”
• Example 6:
  • 以前我每周都踢足球，现在没时间了。
  • Pinyin: Yǐqián wǒ měi zhōu dōu tī zúqiú, xiànzài méi shíjiān le.
  • English: I used to play soccer every week, but now I don't have time.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 每周 to talk about a past habit.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的团队需要提交一份每周工作总结。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de tuánduì xūyào tíjiāo yī fèn měi zhōu gōngzuò zǒngjié.
  • English: Our team needs to submit a weekly work summary.
  • Analysis: Here, 每周 acts as an adjective modifying “work summary” (工作总结). This is common in formal and business contexts.
• Example 8:
  • 这家餐厅每周都有特价菜。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng měi zhōu dōu yǒu tèjià cài.
  • English: This restaurant has a special dish every week.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence you might use when talking about dining out.
• Example 9:
  • 我不一定每周都去超市，有时候两周去一次。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù yīdìng měi zhōu dōu qù chāoshì, yǒushíhou liǎng zhōu qù yī cì.
  • English: I don't necessarily go to the supermarket every week; sometimes I go once every two weeks.
  • Analysis: Shows how to negate the regularity of the action.
• Example 10:
  • 你每周的预算是多少？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi zhōu de yùsuàn shì duōshǎo?
  • English: What is your weekly budget?
  • Analysis: Similar to example 7, 每周的 (měi zhōu de) functions as an adjective, “weekly.”

The most important nuance is understanding the relationship between 每周 (měi zhōu) and 每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī).

• 每周 (měi zhōu): Slightly more formal and concise. Very common in writing, news, and formal speech.
• 每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī): More colloquial and extremely common in everyday spoken Chinese. The classifier 个 (ge) makes it feel more conversational.
• 每星期 (měi xīngqī): Also correct and used, but less common than the other two.

For a beginner, they are virtually interchangeable. Using 每个星期 will make your spoken Chinese sound very natural, while 每周 is perfect for both speaking and writing. Common Mistake: Word Order English speakers often place frequency adverbs at the end of a sentence. This is incorrect in Chinese.

• Incorrect: 我去超市每周。(Wǒ qù chāoshì měi zhōu.) (X)
• Correct: 我每周去超市。(Wǒ měi zhōu qù chāoshì.) (✓)

Always remember the time word (每周) comes before the verb (去).

• 每天 (měi tiān) - Every day. A different, more frequent time unit.
• 每月 (měi yuè) - Every month. A different, less frequent time unit.
• 每年 (měi nián) - Every year. A different, much less frequent time unit.
• 星期 (xīngqī) - Week. The base noun that 每周 is built upon.
• 礼拜 (lǐbài) - Week. A common, slightly more colloquial synonym for 星期, especially in southern China. It originally meant “worship,” from the Christian practice of a weekly day of worship.
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. The end (末) of the week (周).
• 上班 (shàngbān) - To go to work. An activity commonly discussed with 每周.
• 开会 (kāihuì) - To have a meeting. Another activity that often happens on a weekly basis.
• 定期 (dìngqī) - At regular intervals; periodically. A more general and formal term that could mean weekly, monthly, etc., depending on the context.
• 次 (cì) - A measure word for “times” or “occurrences,” often used with 每周 to specify frequency (e.g., 每周三次 - three times a week).