xīngqīliù: 星期六 - Saturday

• Keywords: xīngqīliù, 星期六, Saturday in Chinese, how to say Saturday in Mandarin, days of the week in Chinese, Chinese numbers, learning Chinese weekdays, zhouliu, 周六, libailiu
• Summary: Learn how to say and use “星期六” (xīngqīliù), the standard Mandarin Chinese word for Saturday. This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explains the simple and logical number-based system for Chinese weekdays, and explores its cultural context. Discover practical examples and common alternatives like “周六” (zhōuliù) to sound like a native speaker when making plans for the weekend in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xīngqīliù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: Saturday; the sixth day of the week.
• In a Nutshell: “星期六” (xīngqīliù) is the most common way to say Saturday in mainland China. It's part of a brilliantly simple system where the days of the week are formed by combining “星期” (xīngqī), meaning “week,” with a number. Monday is day one (星期一), Tuesday is day two (星期二), and so on, making Saturday logically “week day six.”

• 星 (xīng): Star. This character is a pictograph, originally depicting stars shining in the sky above the character for “sun” or “life.”
• 期 (qī): A period of time, a cycle, or a date. It's composed of 其 (a phonetic component) and 月 (yuè), which means “moon,” historically used to mark cycles of time.
• 六 (liù): The number six.

The combination “星期” (xīngqī) literally translates to “star period.” This term was adopted from the ancient Babylonian seven-day week, which was based on the seven classical celestial bodies (the Sun, the Moon, and five visible planets). Adding “六” (six) simply marks it as the sixth day of this cycle.

The concept of the modern seven-day week, and the term “星期” itself, is a relatively recent adoption in China, borrowed from the West for its practicality in international scheduling. In modern China, Saturday is the heart of the weekend, or “周末” (zhōumò). This wasn't always the case. Until the mid-1990s, China operated on a six-day workweek, with Saturday being a full or half workday. The transition to a five-day workweek, known as “双休” (shuāngxiū, “double break”), dramatically changed the cultural role of Saturday. It transformed from a day of winding down work to a full day of leisure, shopping, family gatherings, and social activities. Compared to the Western concept of Saturday, the activities are very similar. Malls are packed, restaurants are busy, and young people meet with friends. However, there's often a strong emphasis on either catching up on supplementary classes for students or spending time with extended family, reflecting the persistent importance of education and family in Chinese culture.

“星期六” is the standard, neutral term for Saturday used in virtually all contexts, from formal business emails and news reports to casual chats with friends.

• Scheduling: It is the go-to term for making appointments, setting deadlines, or planning events.
• Interchangeability: In spoken Chinese and informal writing, “周六” (zhōuliù) is an extremely common and completely interchangeable synonym. “周” (zhōu) also means “week.” Using “周六” can make you sound slightly more natural and less like you're reading from a textbook.
• Formality: Both “星期六” and “周六” are neutral in formality. A third variant, “礼拜六” (lǐbàiliù), which stems from the word for “worship,” is more common in Taiwan and among Christian communities but is less frequently used in mainland China today.

• Example 1:
  • 今天是星期六。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān shì xīngqīliù.
  • English: Today is Saturday.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct statement of fact. This is one of the first full sentences learners master.
• Example 2:
  • 我们星期六去看电影吧！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xīngqīliù qù kàn diànyǐng ba!
  • English: Let's go see a movie on Saturday!
  • Analysis: A common way to make a suggestion. The time word “星期六” is placed after the subject and before the verb phrase.
• Example 3:
  • 你这个星期六有什么安排吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhège xīngqīliù yǒu shénme ānpái ma?
  • English: Do you have any plans this Saturday?
  • Analysis: “这个” (zhège) means “this,” specifying which Saturday you are asking about. “安排” (ānpái) means “plans” or “arrangements.”
• Example 4:
  • 我每个星期六早上都去健身房。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge xīngqīliù zǎoshang dōu qù jiànshēnfáng.
  • English: I go to the gym every Saturday morning.
  • Analysis: “每个” (měi ge) means “every,” establishing a routine. Note the structure: Subject + Time (Every Saturday morning) + Verb Phrase.
• Example 5:
  • 太好了，这个星期六不用上班！
  • Pinyin: Tài hǎo le, zhège xīngqīliù búyòng shàngbān!
  • English: Great, I don't have to work this Saturday!
  • Analysis: Expresses relief and happiness. “不用” (búyòng) means “no need to.”
• Example 6:
  • 他的生日派对定在下星期六。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shēngrì pàiduì dìng zài xià xīngqīliù.
  • English: His birthday party is set for next Saturday.
  • Analysis: “下” (xià) means “next” when referring to weeks or months. For the previous Saturday, you would use “上” (shàng).
• Example 7:
  • 我和朋友约好了星期六下午喝咖啡。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hé péngyǒu yuē hǎo le xīngqīliù xiàwǔ hē kāfēi.
  • English: I've arranged to have coffee with a friend on Saturday afternoon.
  • Analysis: “约好了” (yuē hǎo le) is a very useful phrase meaning “have made an appointment/plan.”
• Example 8:
  • 不好意思，我星期六要加班。
  • Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ xīngqīliù yào jiābān.
  • English: Sorry, I have to work overtime on Saturday.
  • Analysis: A common way to politely decline an invitation. “加班” (jiābān) means to work overtime, a frequent reality in modern China.
• Example 9:
  • 星期六的机票通常比星期五的便宜。
  • Pinyin: Xīngqīliù de jīpiào tōngcháng bǐ xīngqīwǔ de piányi.
  • English: Saturday's plane tickets are usually cheaper than Friday's.
  • Analysis: Shows how “星期六” can function as an attribute using “的” (de). This sentence also uses the “比” (bǐ) structure for comparison.
• Example 10:
  • 咱们周六见！
  • Pinyin: Zánmen zhōuliù jiàn!
  • English: See you on Saturday!
  • Analysis: This example uses the common alternative “周六” (zhōuliù) in a very casual, friendly context. “咱们” (zánmen) is a colloquial way to say “we” (including the listener).

• Monday is Day 1: The most common mistake for English speakers is assuming the week starts on Sunday. In the Chinese system, Monday is “星期一” (day one). Therefore, Saturday is correctly “星期六” (day six). Thinking of it as “the seventh day” will lead to errors.
• Using Numbers Alone: You cannot simply say “六” to mean Saturday. You must use the full form “星期六” or its common equivalent “周六.”
• Mixing Up 周六 and 周末: Be careful not to confuse “周六” (zhōuliù - Saturday) with “周末” (zhōumò - weekend). While Saturday is *part* of the weekend, they are not the same word.
  • Correct: 我周末有空。(Wǒ zhōumò yǒu kòng.) - I'm free on the weekend.
  • Incorrect: 我周六有空。 (This only means you are free on Saturday, not necessarily Sunday).
• The “Sunday” Exception: Remember that Sunday is the only day that doesn't follow the number pattern. It is called “星期天” (xīngqītiān - “sky day”) or “星期日” (xīngqīrì - “sun day”), not “星期七” (xīngqīqī).

• 星期一 (xīngqīyī) - Monday; “week day one.”
• 星期二 (xīngqī'èr) - Tuesday; “week day two.”
• 星期三 (xīngqīsān) - Wednesday; “week day three.”
• 星期四 (xīngqīsì) - Thursday; “week day four.”
• 星期五 (xīngqīwǔ) - Friday; “week day five.”
• 星期日 (xīngqīrì) - Sunday; the more formal or written term.
• 星期天 (xīngqītiān) - Sunday; the more common and colloquial term.
• 周六 (zhōuliù) - A very common synonym for “星期六.” The “周” (zhōu) series is used for all days (e.g., 周一, 周二).
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. Literally “week end.”
• 礼拜六 (lǐbàiliù) - A less common alternative for Saturday, literally “worship day six,” more prevalent in Taiwan or specific regions.