星期天
xīngqītiān
Sunday
星期天 (xīngqītiān) is a very common and natural way to say "Sunday" in Mandarin Chinese. It's widely used in everyday conversation and is easily understood.
What does 星期天 (xīngqītiān) mean?
星期天 (xīngqītiān) means “sunday” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “week day sky/heaven.”
When to use it
Neutral. 星期天 is slightly more colloquial. 星期日 (xīngqīrì) is also very common and often interchangeable, frequently appearing in written contexts like calendars but also used in speech. For a slightly more concise option, 周日 (zhōurì) is also common.
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like "shing-chee-TYEN." The first two syllables are level tones, and the last is a high-level tone.
Other ways to say it
- 星期日xīngqīrìSunday (standard/formal)
- 周日zhōurìSunday (concise, common)
Examples
这个星期天你有空吗？
zhège xīngqītiān nǐ yǒu kòng ma?
Are you free this Sunday?
星期日商店不开门。
xīngqīrì shāngdiàn bù kāimén.
The store is closed on Sundays.
我最喜欢周日了。
wǒ zuì xǐhuan zhōurì le.
I like Sundays the most.
Pro tip: While 星期天 and 星期日 are largely interchangeable, 星期日 might feel a touch more formal or standard, especially in written contexts. 礼拜天 is also common, especially in southern China.
Related phrases
生日 · Birthday
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