Depicts a carved jade object, now written as 彫/琱. The meaning later shifted to "circumference" and "cycle". Later the 口 component was added when 周 was used to refer to a geographical region to indicate that the character was only "mouthed", i.e. used for its sound.
In simplified Chinese 周 is also used to mean "week", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 週.
Components
kǒu mouth
Notes
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Historical Evolution
周
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
周
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
周
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
周
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
周
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
周
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
周
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
周
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
周
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
周
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
周
Seal
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
周
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
周
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
周
Seal
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
周
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
周
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
周
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
周
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
周
Regular
Modern
Chinese
周 [Zhōu]
surname Zhou; Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC)
周 [zhōu]
to make a circuit; to circle; circle; circumference; lap; cycle; complete; all; all over; thorough; to help financially
Japanese
- counter for laps or circuits
- perimeter
- Zhou dynasty (of China; approx. 1046-256 BCE); Chou dynasty
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
周 あまね
Amane female given namesurname
周 いたる
Itaru given name
周 おさむ
Osamu unclassified name
周 かね
Kane surname
周 しゅ
Shu surname
周 しゅう
Shuu surnamegiven name
周 しゅうき
Shuuki given name
周 しゅうきち
Shuukichi unclassified name
周 しゅうじ
Shuuji unclassified name
周 しゅうてい
Shuutei given name
周 しゆ
Shiyu surname
周 じゅう
Juu unclassified name
周 すさき
Susaki surname
周 すざき
Suzaki surname
周 ちか
Chika female given name
周 ちかし
Chikashi given name
周 つかし
Tsukashi unclassified name
周 ひろし
Hiroshi unclassified name
周 まこと
Makoto given name
周 めぐり
Meguri female given name
周 めぐる
Meguru female given name
CHINESE WORDS (200)
周围 [zhōuwéi] #1,442
surroundings
周围 [zhōuwéi] #1,442
surroundings
上周 [shàngzhōu] #1,722
last week
每周 [měizhōu] #2,845
every week
周边 [zhōubiān] #9,843
periphery
周边 [zhōubiān] #9,843
periphery
四周 [sìzhōu] #5,066
all around
周日 [Zhōurì] #4,249
Sunday
周四 [Zhōusì] #5,204
Thursday
周刊 [zhōukān] #8,374
weekly publication
190 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (200)
⭐ 周囲 [しゅうい] #721
surroundings
⭐ 周り [まわり] #773
circumference
⭐ 慌てる [あわてる] #1,317
to become confused (disconcerted, disorganized, disorganised)
⭐ 周辺 [しゅうへん] #2,366
circumference
⭐ 一周 [いっしゅう] #10,452
one round
遠回り [とおまわり] #10,564
detour
⭐ 身の回り [みのまわり] #12,710
one's personal belongings
回りくどい [まわりくどい] #13,125
circuitous
外周 [がいしゅう] #17,227
outer circumference
⭐ 周知 [しゅうち] #18,769
common knowledge
190 more
items