Readings: シュウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Week
The character 週 (shū) combines 辶 (しんにょう – “road/movement”) and 周 (shū – “around/circumference”). It implies “going around” or “a cycle,” thus representing a “week” as a cycle of days.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 週 consists of 11 strokes. It starts with the “road” radical 辶 on the left, followed by the character 周 on the right. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for correct writing.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 辶 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シュウ (Shuu)
Common Words Using 週
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 毎週 | まいしゅう | every week |
| 今週 | こんしゅう | this week |
| 来週 | らいしゅう | next week |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | last week |
| 週末 | しゅうまつ | weekend |
| 週刊 | しゅうかん | weekly publication |
| 週日 | しゅうじつ | weekday |
| 週休 | しゅうきゅう | weekly holiday/day off |
| 次週 | じしゅう | next week (formal) |
| 週齢 | しゅうれい | age in weeks |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 今週はとても忙しいです。
Kana: こんしゅうはとてもいそがしいです。
Romaji: Konshū wa totemo isogashii desu.
English: This week is very busy.
Japanese: 来週、日本へ行きます。
Kana: らいしゅう、にほんへいきます。
Romaji: Raishū, Nihon e ikimasu.
English: I will go to Japan next week.
Japanese: 毎週土曜日にテニスをします。
Kana: まいしゅうどようびにテニスをします。
Romaji: Maishū doyōbi ni tenisu o shimasu.
English: I play tennis every Saturday.
Japanese: 先週、新しい本を読みました。
Kana: せんしゅう、あたらしいほんをよみました。
Romaji: Senshū, atarashii hon o yomimashita.
English: I read a new book last week.
Japanese: 週末は何をしますか？
Kana: しゅうまつはなにをしますか？
Romaji: Shūmatsu wa nani o shimasu ka?
English: What will you do on the weekend?
Japanese: 週刊誌を読んでいます。
Kana: しゅうかんしをよんでいます。
Romaji: Shūkanshi o yonde imasu.
English: I am reading a weekly magazine.
Japanese: 一週間の休みが必要です。
Kana: いっしゅうかんのやすみがひつようです。
Romaji: Isshūkan no yasumi ga hitsuyō desu.
English: I need a one-week vacation.
Japanese: 彼は週に３回ジムに行きます。
Kana: かれはしゅうにさんかいジムにいきます。
Romaji: Kare wa shū ni sankai jimu ni ikimasu.
English: He goes to the gym three times a week.
Japanese: このプロジェクトは２週間かかります。
Kana: このプロジェクトはにしゅうかんかかります。
Romaji: Kono purojekuto wa nishūkan kakarimasu.
English: This project will take two weeks.
Japanese: 週明けに会議があります。
Kana: しゅうあけにかいぎがあります。
Romaji: Shūake ni kaigi ga arimasu.
English: There is a meeting at the beginning of the week.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.