Language/Min-nan-chinese/Vocabulary/Days-of-the-Week
Hi Min Nan Chinese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to say the days of the week in Min Nan Chinese. Knowing the days of the week in a language is an essential part of daily communication. It allows us to schedule appointments, plan our activities, and talk about dates. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently discuss the days of the week in Min Nan Chinese. Let's get started!
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson:Say Hello and Greetings in Min Nan Chinese, Family, Animals & Drinks.
The Days of the Week[edit | edit source]
In Min Nan Chinese, the days of the week are based on Chinese tradition and are named after the five elements (五行, wǔxíng) and the two imaginary creatures (长生十二神, cháng shēng shí èr shén) in Chinese mythology. Each day is also associated with a specific planet.
Take a look at the table below to learn the days of the week in Min Nan Chinese:
| Min Nan Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 星期一 | sêng-kè tsi̍t | Monday |
| 星期二 | sêng-kè jī / li̍t | Tuesday |
| 星期三 | sêng-kè saⁿ / saⁿ-ji̍t | Wednesday |
| 星期四 | sêng-kè sù | Thursday |
| 星期五 | sêng-kè gō͘ / ngóo | Friday |
| 星期六 | sêng-kè la̍k / la̍k-ji̍t | Saturday |
| 星期日 | sêng-kè ji̍t / li̍p-ji̍t | Sunday |
As you can see, "星期" (sêng-kè) is used to mean "week" and is followed by the specific day.
Fun fact: In the past, the days of the week in Min Nan Chinese were named after the ten celestial stems (天干, tiāngān) and the twelve earthly branches (地支, dìzhī) in the Chinese calendar. They were also assigned to the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. This system is still used in some parts of China and Taiwan today.
Using the Days of the Week[edit | edit source]
Let's practice using the days of the week in context. Here's a dialogue between two friends:
- Person 1: 你星期五有空吗？ (Lí sêng-kè ngóo ū khui mā?)
(Translation: Are you free on Friday?)
- Person 2: 对唷，我星期五没有课。(Tuì--óo, góa sêng-kè ngóo m̄-koh khòe.)
(Translation: Yes, I don't have classes on Friday.)
You can use this dialogue as a model for other days of the week. For example, to talk about Sunday, you can say "你星期日有空吗？" (Lí sêng-kè ji̍t ū khui mā?) and so on.
Additional Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
To practice more Min Nan Chinese vocabulary related to the days of the week, check out the Min Nan Chinese section on Polyglot Club. You can also learn new vocabulary by finding native speakers and asking them any questions.
Here are some additional words related to the days of the week:
| Min Nan Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 过年 | kuè-nî / kuè-liū | New Year |
| 生日 | senn-jit | Birthday |
| 星期末 | sêng-kè bā̤t | Weekend |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have learned how to say the days of the week in Min Nan Chinese. Knowing these words will help you communicate with others and plan your activities in a Chinese-speaking community. To improve your Min Nan Chinese vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding:Fruits, Basic phrases, Health & Express Surprise.