Monday in Chinese: 星期一
Pronounced sheeng-chee-EE — literally “week (day) one”.
Monday in Chinese at a Glance
| Simplified | 星期一 |
|---|---|
| Traditional | 星期一 |
| Pinyin | xīngqīyī |
| Pronunciation | sheeng-chee-EE (xīng·qī·yī) |
| Literal meaning | week (day) one |
| Abbreviation | 周一 (zhōuyī) |
| Also said as | 周一 (zhōuyī) · 礼拜一 (lǐbàiyī) |
星期 (xīngqī) literally means “star period” — a reference to the ancient seven-luminary week — and 一 (yī) is the number one. Monday is simply “week-day one”. The numbered system became standard in the early 20th century, replacing older planetary names.
How to Pronounce 星期一
sheeng-chee-EE — syllable by syllable: xīng·qī·yī.
- Tones matter: 星期 is xīngqī (first tone, high and level, on both syllables).
- The q in qī sounds like English “ch” but with the tongue closer to the teeth.
- The x in xīng is a soft “sh” sound made with spread lips, not rounded ones.
Example Sentences with 星期一
How to Say “Happy Monday” in Chinese
“星期一快乐！” is understood and used in friendly messages, though it's less of a fixed custom than in English. On weekends you'll often see 周末愉快 (zhōumò yúkuài) — “have a pleasant weekend”.
Other Ways to Say Monday in Chinese
- 周一 (zhōuyī) — neutral, very common in writing and speech
- 礼拜一 (lǐbàiyī) — colloquial, common in southern China and Taiwan
All 7 Days of the Week in Chinese
Mandarin Chinese uses a beautifully logical numbered week: 星期 (xīngqī) means “week”, and you simply attach the numbers one to six for Monday through Saturday. Sunday is the only exception — it uses 日 (rì, “sun”) or 天 (tiān, “sky/day”) instead of a seven.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 星期一 | xīngqīyī | sheeng-chee-EE | |
| Tuesday | 星期二 | xīngqī'èr | sheeng-chee-AR | |
| Wednesday | 星期三 | xīngqīsān | sheeng-chee-SAHN | |
| Thursday | 星期四 | xīngqīsì | sheeng-chee-SUH | |
| Friday | 星期五 | xīngqīwǔ | sheeng-chee-WOO | |
| Saturday | 星期六 | xīngqīliù | sheeng-chee-LYOH | |
| Sunday | 星期日 | xīngqīrì | sheeng-chee-RR |
See the full guide: Days of the Week in Chinese.
Cultural Notes: Monday in Chinese-Speaking Countries
China numbers its week from Monday, so 星期一 is day one — handy for remembering. Monday morning flag-raising ceremonies are a fixture at Chinese schools.
Did You Know?
星期 (xīngqī) literally means “star period” — a reference to the ancient seven-luminary week — and 一 (yī) is the number one. Monday is simply “week-day one”. The numbered system became standard in the early 20th century, replacing older planetary names. Curious how English got its name for Monday? See our guide to the origins of the days of the week.
How to Use 星期一 in a Sentence
Chinese needs no preposition for “on”: 我星期一有课 (wǒ xīngqīyī yǒu kè) literally means “I Monday have class”. Time words like 星期一 go before the verb. You can swap 星期 (xīngqī) for 周 (zhōu) or the colloquial 礼拜 (lǐbài) without changing the meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Monday in Chinese?
Monday in Chinese is 星期一 (xīngqīyī), pronounced “sheeng-chee-EE”. It literally means “week (day) one”.
What does 星期一 mean in English?
星期 (xīngqī) literally means “star period” — a reference to the ancient seven-luminary week — and 一 (yī) is the number one. Monday is simply “week-day one”. The numbered system became standard in the early 20th century, replacing older planetary names.
How do you pronounce 星期一?
It's pronounced “sheeng-chee-EE” — broken into syllables: xīng·qī·yī. Use the audio button on this page to hear a recording.
Is 星期一 capitalized in Chinese?
Chinese characters have no capital letters, so 星期一 always looks the same. In pinyin, weekday names are written in lowercase (xīngqīyī) unless they begin a sentence.
How do you say “Happy Monday” in Chinese?
星期一快乐！ (Xīngqīyī kuàilè!). “星期一快乐！” is understood and used in friendly messages, though it's less of a fixed custom than in English. On weekends you'll often see 周末愉快 (zhōumò yúkuài) — “have a pleasant weekend”.
How is Monday abbreviated in Chinese?
Monday (星期一) is abbreviated 周一 (zhōuyī) on Chinese calendars and schedules.
What's the difference between 星期一, 周一 and 礼拜一?
They all mean Monday. 星期 (xīngqī) is the standard form, 周 (zhōu) is a shorter equivalent common in writing and schedules, and 礼拜 (lǐbài, originally “worship”) is colloquial, heard especially in southern China and Taiwan.
How do you write Monday in Chinese pinyin?
The pinyin is xīngqīyī, pronounced roughly “sheeng-chee-EE”. Tone marks matter: 星期 takes the high, level first tone on both syllables.
Is 星期一 the same in traditional Chinese?
Yes — 星期一 is written identically in simplified and traditional Chinese. Only the colloquial 礼拜 form changes (traditional: 禮拜).
How do you say “today is Monday” in Chinese?
今天是星期一 (Jīntiān shì xīngqīyī) — literally “today is week (day) one”.
Monday in Other Languages
Other Days in Chinese
Wondering what day it is in China right now? Check our live What day is it in China? page.