<p>周末 literally means "weekend," and in modern China, it usually refers to "Saturday and Sunday."</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-30T09:22:59.767Z
If we consider 周末 has same meaning as Weekend, means last day of a week, shouldn't it be [only Saturday](https://www.quora.com/Is-Sunday-the-beginning-or-end-of-a-week)?
tsh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-30T09:26:56.277Z
@tsh In China, the last day of the week is usually Sunday.
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-30T09:36:14.923Z
@fefe And that would be "only Sunday". Still not "both Sat. and Sun".
tsh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-30T09:12:27.587Z
2019-12-31T02:49:26.367Z
2019-12-31T02:49:26.367Z
Z.D.Chen
<p>It is usually Saturday and Sunday.</p>

<p>It used to be only Sunday, the last day of week in China, which happened to be the only day in the week which is not a workday.</p>

<p>But as workdays changed from 6 days to 5 days in a week, 周末 now usually refers to the Saturday and Sunday.</p>

<p>ref: <a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%91%A8%E6%9C%AB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">汉典</a> give this definition for 周末:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>原指星期六下班后到星期天晚,实行五天工作制后,指每周的最后两天</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-31T02:39:52.577Z
2019-12-31T02:39:52.577Z
fefe
<p>I'm not really understanding any of your theorized possibilities but I have one thing that might help add to your logic.</p>

<p>I've seen conversations that go something like:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A: 我们周末生意比较好。<br>
  B: 那就是星期五晚上跟星期六晚上哈？<br>
  A: 诶，对，就是。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In this context the "weekend" (周末) became the nights before a typical weekend of Saturday and Sunday, this is assumedly because people need to get up Monday morning so going out on a Sunday night is not viable and is thus stricken from the weekend. It's almost Jewish in a way.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-31T02:48:28.383Z
2019-12-31T02:48:28.383Z
Mou某
<p>I and my friends disagree on what 周末 means. And to summarize all opinions, is it</p>

<ul>
<li>周五, 周末 was used to describe 周六 when 周六 is workday (last workday in a week). And since 周六 is no longer a workday, we call 周五 as 周末</li>
<li>周六, 周末 means 周六. Typically the last column on (most) calendars.</li>
<li>周日, 周末 literally means the ending (last day) of a week, which should be 周日</li>
<li>周六 and 周日, 周末 is opposite of workdays, which should be both 周六 and 周日</li>
</ul>

<p>Which one is more acceptable / correct?</p>

<meaning><word>
Which day is 周末
# Which day is 周末

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-30)

I and my friends disagree on what 周末 means. And to summarize all opinions, is it

* 周五, 周末 was used to describe 周六 when 周六 is workday (last workday in a week). And since 周六 is no longer a workday, we call 周五 as 周末
* 周六, 周末 means 周六. Typically the last column on (most) calendars.
* 周日, 周末 literally means the ending (last day) of a week, which should be 周日
* 周六 and 周日, 周末 is opposite of workdays, which should be both 周六 and 周日

Which one is more acceptable / correct?

**Tags:** meaning, word

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-30. Score: 3

周末 literally means "weekend," and in modern China, it usually refers to "Saturday and Sunday."

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: If we consider 周末 has same meaning as Weekend, means last day of a week, shouldn't it be [only Saturday](https://www.quora.com/Is-Sunday-the-beginning-or-end-of-a-week)?  
> **username_2**: @tsh In China, the last day of the week is usually Sunday.  
> **username_0**: @fefe And that would be "only Sunday". Still not "both Sat. and Sun".  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-12-31. Score: 2

It is usually Saturday and Sunday.

It used to be only Sunday, the last day of week in China, which happened to be the only day in the week which is not a workday.

But as workdays changed from 6 days to 5 days in a week, 周末 now usually refers to the Saturday and Sunday.

ref: [汉典](https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%91%A8%E6%9C%AB) give this definition for 周末:

> 原指星期六下班后到星期天晚,实行五天工作制后,指每周的最后两天


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-12-31. Score: 0

I'm not really understanding any of your theorized possibilities but I have one thing that might help add to your logic.

I've seen conversations that go something like:

> A: 我们周末生意比较好。  
> B: 那就是星期五晚上跟星期六晚上哈？  
> A: 诶，对，就是。

In this context the "weekend" (周末) became the nights before a typical weekend of Saturday and Sunday, this is assumedly because people need to get up Monday morning so going out on a Sunday night is not viable and is thus stricken from the weekend. It's almost Jewish in a way.


---

