しゅう

week

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word "週" (しゅう) means "week" in Japanese and is commonly used to refer to a period of seven days. It is often combined with numbers or time expressions to indicate specific weeks or recurring weekly events.

Common Collocations

  • 来週 (らいしゅう): next week
  • 毎週 (まいしゅう): every week
  • 一週間 (いっしゅうかん): one week (duration)

Usage Notes

"週" is a noun and is frequently used with counters or time expressions. For example, "一週間" means "one week" as a duration, while "来週" refers to the upcoming week. It is important not to confuse "週" with "曜日" (ようび), which means "day of the week".

Register and Politeness

"週" is a neutral term used in both formal and informal contexts. It appears in everyday conversation, business settings, and written language.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "週" with "日" (day) or "曜日" (day of the week). Remember that "週" refers to the whole week, not a single day.

Example Sentences

らいしゅうはりょこうにいきます。

I will go on a trip next week.

まいしゅうげつようびにかいぎがあります。

There is a meeting every Monday.

いっしゅうかんでこのほんをよみおえました。

I finished reading this book in one week.