zhè ge xīngqī: 这个星期 - This Week

• Keywords: zhe ge xingqi, zhege xingqi, 这个星期, this week in Chinese, how to say this week in Mandarin, Chinese time words, measure words for time, xingqi, zhe, ge, HSK 1 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “this week” in Chinese with the essential phrase 这个星期 (zhè ge xīngqī). This guide breaks down its meaning, grammar, and practical use in everyday conversation. Perfect for beginners, this entry covers everything from making plans and scheduling appointments to understanding the cultural context of the Chinese week. Discover example sentences, common mistakes, and related terms to master this fundamental Mandarin time word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhè ge xīngqī
• Part of Speech: Time Phrase / Noun Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A direct and standard way to say “this week.”
• In a Nutshell: 这个星期 (zhè ge xīngqī) is the most common and straightforward way to refer to the current calendar week. It's a foundational phrase used constantly in daily life for talking about plans, describing recent events, or scheduling things for the near future. It's composed of three simple parts: “this” (这), a measure word (个), and “week” (星期).

• 这 (zhè): A demonstrative pronoun meaning “this” or “these.” It points to something close in time or space.
• 个 (ge): The most common measure word (or “counter”) in Mandarin. It's used to link a number or a demonstrative pronoun (like 这) to a noun. Think of it as a grammatical connector.
• 星 (xīng): Means “star.” It originally depicted a star in the sky.
• 期 (qī): Means “a period of time” or “a phase.”

The word for week, 星期 (xīngqī), literally translates to “star period.” This name originates from the ancient system of naming the seven days of the week after the Sun, the Moon, and the five visible planets—the major celestial “stars” of the old world. Combining these characters, 这个星期 (zhè ge xīngqī) logically forms the meaning: “this [unit of] star-period,” or simply, “this week.”

While “this week” is a universal concept, its structure in Chinese reveals a key feature of the language: its logical and systematic nature. Unlike English, where days are named after Norse or Roman gods (Thursday = Thor's day), the Chinese days of the week are numbered. The week begins on Monday and follows a simple pattern:

• 星期一 (xīngqīyī): Monday (Week Day 1)
• 星期二 (xīngqī'èr): Tuesday (Week Day 2)
• 星期三 (xīngqīsān): Wednesday (Week Day 3)
• …and so on.
• 星期天 (xīngqītiān) or 星期日 (xīngqīrì): Sunday (Week Day “Sky” or “Sun”)

This makes talking about specific days within 这个星期 very straightforward. For an English-speaking learner, this numbered system is often a welcome relief. The phrase 这个星期 itself functions almost identically to “this week” in English when planning or scheduling, making it an easy concept to grasp and use immediately.

这个星期 is a high-frequency phrase used in virtually all aspects of modern life. It is neutral in formality and appropriate for any situation.

• Making Plans: It's the go-to phrase for arranging activities with friends, family, or colleagues.
  • “这个星期我们去看电影，好吗？” (Let's go to the movies this week, okay?)
• Work and School: Used constantly for discussing deadlines, meetings, and assignments.
  • “老板说报告这个星期必须交。” (The boss said the report must be submitted this week.)
• Describing Your State: Talking about how busy you are or how you feel during the current week.
  • “我这个星期特别累。” (I'm especially tired this week.)
• Colloquial Shortening: In casual conversation, you will often hear native speakers drop the measure word 个 (ge) and say 这星期 (zhè xīngqī). Both are correct, but 这个星期 is the full and more standard form that beginners should learn first.

• Example 1:
  • 这个星期你有什么计划？
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xīngqī nǐ yǒu shé me jìhuà?
  • English: What are your plans for this week?
  • Analysis: A classic, common question used to start a conversation about plans.
• Example 2:
  • 我这个星期非常忙，没有时间。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhè ge xīngqī fēicháng máng, méiyǒu shíjiān.
  • English: I am extremely busy this week, I don't have time.
  • Analysis: A typical way to express being busy and decline an invitation.
• Example 3:
  • 这个星期的天气怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xīngqī de tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
  • English: How is the weather this week?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates using 的 (de) to modify a noun (the weather of this week).
• Example 4:
  • 这个星期五是我的生日。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xīngqī wǔ shì wǒ de shēngrì.
  • English: This Friday is my birthday.
  • Analysis: Shows how to specify a day within the week. You simply state the week, then the day.
• Example 5:
  • 医生让我这个星期多休息。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng ràng wǒ zhè ge xīngqī duō xiūxi.
  • English: The doctor told me to rest more this week.
  • Analysis: The time phrase 这个星期 can be placed after the subject and before the verb phrase.
• Example 6:
  • 这个星期过得真快！
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xīngqī guò de zhēn kuài!
  • English: This week went by so fast!
  • Analysis: Here, 这个星期 acts as the subject of the sentence.
• Example 7:
  • 我们这个星期要去见客户。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhè ge xīngqī yào qù jiàn kèhù.
  • English: We are going to meet clients this week.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in a business or work context.
• Example 8:
  • 你这个星期有空一起吃饭吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhè ge xīngqī yǒu kòng yīqǐ chīfàn ma?
  • English: Are you free to have a meal together this week?
  • Analysis: Another polite and common way to make an invitation.
• Example 9:
  • 他这个星期已经迟到三次了。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhè ge xīngqī yǐjīng chídào sān cì le.
  • English: He has already been late three times this week.
  • Analysis: Used to talk about events that have happened within the current week.
• Example 10:
  • 这家商店这个星期有折扣。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn zhè ge xīngqī yǒu zhékòu.
  • English: This store has a discount this week.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence you might hear or see while shopping.

• Forgetting the Measure Word “个 (ge)”: A very common mistake for beginners is to directly translate “this week” into “这星期.” While 这星期 (zhè xīngqī) is used colloquially, the grammatically standard form is 这个星期 (zhè ge xīngqī). When specifying a day, the measure word is essential.
  • Incorrect: ~~这星期一~~ (zhè xīngqī yī)
  • Correct: 这个星期一 (zhè ge xīngqī yī) - This Monday
• “This Week” vs. “Next Seven Days”: 这个星期 almost always refers to the calendar week (e.g., the week from the past Monday to the coming Sunday). If you want to talk about the seven-day period starting from today, it's clearer to say 接下来七天 (jiē xiàlái qī tiān), which means “the following seven days.”
• Placement in a Sentence: Like other time words in Chinese, 这个星期 is usually placed after the subject and before the verb.
  • Correct: 我 这个星期 去上海。 (Wǒ zhè ge xīngqī qù Shànghǎi.)
  • Incorrect (English structure): ~~我去上海 这个星期。~~ (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi zhè ge xīngqī.)

• 上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī) - Last week. The direct opposite for talking about the past.
• 下个星期 (xià ge xīngqī) - Next week. The direct opposite for talking about the future.
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. A key part of any week that is often discussed using 这个星期. (e.g., 这个周末 - this weekend).
• 周 (zhōu) - A more formal or written character for “week.” You will see it in phrases like 本周 (běn zhōu), meaning “this week” in a more formal/written context.
• 礼拜 (lǐbài) - A common synonym for “week,” often used in speech, especially in southern China and Taiwan. 这个礼拜 (zhè ge lǐbài) means the exact same thing as 这个星期.
• 这个月 (zhè ge yuè) - This month. Uses the same “这 + 个 + [Time Unit]” structure.
• 今年 (jīnnián) - This year. A similar concept but for a larger time scale. Note it doesn't use the measure word “个”.
• 今天 (jīntiān) - Today. The most immediate time word.
• 星期一 (xīngqīyī) to 星期天 (xīngqītiān) - The days of the week. Essential for being specific about your plans within 这个星期.