lǐbàitiān: 礼拜天 - Sunday

• Keywords: 礼拜天, libaitian, Sunday in Chinese, Chinese days of the week, 星期天, 周日, how to say Sunday in Chinese, what is libaitian, 礼拜, learn Chinese vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning and usage of 礼拜天 (lǐbàitiān), a common and slightly informal way to say “Sunday” in Mandarin Chinese. This guide explores its Christian origins, compares it to its synonyms 星期天 (xīngqītiān) and 周日 (zhōurì), and provides numerous practical example sentences. Learn the cultural context behind Chinese days of the week to make your conversations sound more natural.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǐbàitiān
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: Sunday.
• In a Nutshell: 礼拜天 (lǐbàitiān) is a very common way to say “Sunday” in spoken Chinese. Its name literally means “worship day,” stemming from the introduction of Christianity to China. While it has religious roots, today it is used by everyone, regardless of belief, to refer to the final day of the week—a day for rest, family, and fun.

• 礼 (lǐ): This character means rites, ceremony, or politeness. It is associated with formal rituals and worship.
• 拜 (bài): This character means to pay respect, to worship, or to salute, often involving a physical gesture like bowing or joining one's hands.
• 天 (tiān): This character simply means “day” or “sky.”

When combined, 礼拜 (lǐbài) means “to worship” or a “(religious) service.” Adding 天 (tiān) turns it into “the day for worship,” a direct reference to the Christian Sabbath, or Sunday.

The existence of 礼拜天 (lǐbàitiān) is a direct linguistic footprint of Western cultural exchange, specifically from Christian missionaries. While most days of the week in modern Mandarin follow a simple numbering system (e.g., 星期一, xīngqīyī, for Monday), the terms for “week” and “Sunday” have more varied and culturally rich origins. In Western cultures, the name “Sunday” is pagan in origin (“Sun's day”). However, in many Romance languages, the word for Sunday derives from the Latin Dominus, meaning “the Lord's Day” (e.g., Spanish domingo, French dimanche). 礼拜天 (lǐbàitiān) is culturally much closer to this “Lord's Day” concept, as it explicitly refers to religious observance. Despite this origin, its usage in modern, largely secular China is completely mainstream. Using 礼拜天 doesn't imply you are religious, any more than saying “Thursday” in English implies you worship Thor. It has become a standard, if slightly informal, part of the daily lexicon, valued for its warm, relaxed feel.

礼拜天 is primarily used in spoken, informal contexts. It feels a bit more personal and traditional than its common synonym, 星期天 (xīngqītiān).

• Informal Conversation: You will hear it constantly among friends, family, and colleagues when making casual plans.
• Formality:
  • Informal (most common): 礼拜天 (lǐbàitiān)
  • Neutral (standard): 星期天 (xīngqītiān) - Good for both speaking and writing.
  • Formal (written): 周日 (zhōurì) - You'll see this on schedules, official notices, and in the news.

While the full “礼拜” series (礼拜一 for Monday, 礼拜二 for Tuesday, etc.) exists and is common in some southern dialects, it is not standard in Mandarin. For a beginner, it's safest to learn the 星期 (xīngqī) system for all other days and use 礼拜天 as a common alternative for Sunday only.

• Example 1:
  • 这个礼拜天你有什么计划吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhège lǐbàitiān nǐ yǒu shénme jìhuà ma?
  • English: Do you have any plans this Sunday?
  • Analysis: A classic, everyday example of how to ask someone about their weekend plans.
• Example 2:
  • 我每个礼拜天都去公园散步。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge lǐbàitiān dōu qù gōngyuán sànbù.
  • English: I go for a walk in the park every Sunday.
  • Analysis: The use of 每个 (měi ge) before 礼拜天 establishes a regular, weekly routine.
• Example 3:
  • 礼拜天我只想在家好好休息。
  • Pinyin: Lǐbàitiān wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zài jiā hǎohǎo xiūxi.
  • English: On Sunday, I just want to rest well at home.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the feeling of Sunday as a day of rest.
• Example 4:
  • 上个礼拜天天气特别好，我们去爬山了。
  • Pinyin: Shàng ge lǐbàitiān tiānqì tèbié hǎo, wǒmen qù páshān le.
  • English: Last Sunday the weather was especially good, so we went mountain climbing.
  • Analysis: Shows how to refer to a past Sunday using 上个 (shàng ge).
• Example 5:
  • 我们约好下个礼拜天一起吃饭。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yuē hǎo xià ge lǐbàitiān yīqǐ chīfàn.
  • English: We've arranged to have a meal together next Sunday.
  • Analysis: Shows how to refer to a future Sunday using 下个 (xià ge).
• Example 6:
  • 真希望每天都是礼拜天！
  • Pinyin: Zhēn xīwàng měitiān dōu shì lǐbàitiān!
  • English: I really wish every day was Sunday!
  • Analysis: A common, lighthearted complaint about the work week.
• Example 7:
  • 礼拜天商店开门会晚一点。
  • Pinyin: Lǐbàitiān shāngdiàn kāimén huì wǎn yīdiǎn.
  • English: On Sundays, the shops open a little later.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence about how schedules can change on the weekend.
• Example 8:
  • 他是基督徒，所以礼拜天要去教堂做礼拜。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì jīdūtú, suǒyǐ lǐbàitiān yào qù jiàotáng zuò lǐbài.
  • English: He is a Christian, so he has to go to church for service on Sunday.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly connects 礼拜天 (Sunday) with its root meaning of 做礼拜 (zuò lǐbài - to attend a service).
• Example 9:
  • 不管多忙，我礼拜天下午都会陪孩子。
  • Pinyin: Bùguǎn duō máng, wǒ lǐbàitiān xiàwǔ dōu huì péi háizi.
  • English: No matter how busy I am, I always spend Sunday afternoon with my kids.
  • Analysis: Emphasizes Sunday as a day for family.
• Example 10:
  • A: 电影票是礼拜天的还是礼拜六的？ B: 是礼拜天的。
  • Pinyin: A: Diànyǐng piào shì lǐbàitiān de háishì lǐbàiliù de? B: Shì lǐbàitiān de.
  • English: A: Are the movie tickets for Sunday or Saturday? B: They're for Sunday.
  • Analysis: A simple conversational exchange used for clarification. Note that while `礼拜六` is less standard than `星期六`, you may still hear it in this context.

• 礼拜天 vs. 星期天 vs. 周日: This is the most crucial distinction.
  • 礼拜天 (lǐbàitiān): Most common in speech, feels warm and informal.
  • 星期天 (xīngqītiān): The neutral, all-purpose standard. When in doubt, use this one.
  • 周日 (zhōurì): Formal and written. Use it when writing an email or reading a schedule.
• Don't Overuse “礼拜”: A common mistake for learners is to hear 礼拜天 and then assume they can create `礼拜一`, `礼拜二`, etc., for the other days. While these forms are used in some regional dialects, they are not standard Mandarin. Sticking to the `星期 (xīngqī)` system (`星期一, 星期二…`) is the correct and safest approach for learners.
• It's Not Just for Religious People: Do not assume someone is Christian because they use the word 礼拜天. The term has been fully secularized in everyday language. Its religious connotation is now more of a historical fact than a practical implication.

• 星期天 (xīngqītiān) - The most common and neutral synonym for Sunday. The default choice for learners.
• 周日 (zhōurì) - The formal, written term for Sunday, used in official contexts.
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. 礼拜天 is the second half of the weekend.
• 星期 (xīngqī) - Week. The basis for the most standard way of naming days of the week.
• 礼拜 (lǐbài) - The root word, meaning “to worship” or a “religious service.”
• 教堂 (jiàotáng) - Church. The place people go to 做礼拜 (zuò lǐbài) on 礼拜天.
• 休息 (xiūxi) - To rest. What most people do on 礼拜天.
• 放假 (fàngjià) - To have a day off / to be on vacation. Sunday is a standard day off.
• 星期一 (xīngqīyī) - Monday. The start of the work week, often contrasted with the leisure of 礼拜天.