周

See also: 固 and 週

周 U+5468, 周 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5468 ← 呧 [U+5467] CJK Unified Ideographs 呩 → [U+5469]

周 U+2F83F, 周 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F83F ← 呈 [U+2F83E] CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement 咢 → [U+2F840]

Translingual

Stroke order

Alternative forms

• In certain typefaces and/or at small font sizes, the edges of the 土 component touch the enclosing 冂 component, producing a resemblance to the radical 用.

Han character

周 (Kangxi radical 30, 口+5, 8 strokes, cangjie input 月土口 (BGR), four-corner 7722₀, composition ⿵⺆𠮷(GTJV) or ⿵⺆⿻一古 or ⿵⺆⿱𰀁口(HK))

Derived characters

• 倜, 凋, 調 (调), 啁, 徟, 淍, 惆, 婤, 𰀧, 綢 (绸), 琱, 椆, 晭, 賙 (赒), 禂, 碉, 睭, 稠, 皗, 裯, 蜩, 輖 (𫐏), 錭, 鯛(鲷), 騆, 䓟, 㓮, 郮, 彫, 翢, 雕, 鵰 (𫛲), 奝, 霌, 週, 𥮐, 𥺝, 𦈺, 𦩍, 𡕐

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 181, character 36
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3441
• Dae Jaweon: page 400, character 5
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 606, character 3
• Unihan data for U+5468

• Unihan data for U+2F83F

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 周
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States		Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Ancient script	Small seal script

Characters in the same phonetic series (周) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
裯	*tuːw, *dɯw, *do
啁	*tuːw, *rtɯːw, *tɯw
禂	*tuːwʔ
綢	*tʰuːw, *dɯw
翢	*tʰuːw, *duːw
錭	*duːw
雕	*tɯːw
凋	*tɯːw
琱	*tɯːw
鯛	*tɯːw
鵰	*tɯːw
彫	*tɯːw
奝	*tɯːw
調	*dɯːw, *dɯːws, *tɯw
蜩	*dɯːw
惆	*tʰɯw
婤	*tʰɯw, *tjɯw
稠	*dɯw
椆	*dɯw, *tjɯws
周	*tjɯw
輖	*tjɯw
賙	*tjɯw
郮	*tjɯw
晭	*tjɯwʔ
倜	*tʰɯːwɢ

Oracle bone script: Pictogram (象形) of a jade artifact with carved patterns. Original form of 彫 (OC *tɯːw, “to carve”). The character was later borrowed as a country name and 口 was added as a distinguishing mark. A semi-conservative version in which the carvings are visible is 𠕛. The top part of the character gradually became similar to 用 in the late Western Zhou period. See also 黃, which could have a reference to a jade artifact.

The seal script form can be interpreted as ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) : semantic 口 (“mouth”) + semantic 用 (“to use”) - indicating the idea of using words skillfully to express oneself, thereby conveying the meaning of being meticulous or detailed.

Etymology 1

trad.		周
simp. #		周
alternative forms		𠕛 𠱬 𠄗 𠕛 𠣘 𠕛 𠱬 𠄗 𠕛 𠣘 淍 週／周

to encircle, to circle, to surround, everywhere, curve (in the road)

Unclear. Possibly connected with Tibetan གཅུ་བ (gcu ba) ~ ལྕུ་བ (lcu ba, “screw”), གཅུད་བ (gcud ba) ~ ལྕུབ་བ (lcub ba, “turn, twist, plait, braid”), or Thai ดิ้ว (dîu, “club, stick; strips of rattan or bamboo bent in a circle to which ribs of a cage are fastened”) or Khmer ជួត (cuət, “to wind; to wrap around; to wear a turban”) (Schuessler, 2007)

to help

Unclear. Maybe same word as 周 (zhōu, “to surround”) as words for "help, aid" often derive from the notion "next to, or around, a person" (for analogies, 佐 (OC *ʔsaːls, “to assist < to be on one's left-side”) from 左 (OC *ʔsaːlʔ, “left”) and 佑 (OC *ɢʷɯs, “to assist < to be on one's right-side”) from 右 (OC *ɢʷɯʔ)) (Schuessler, 2007).

Alternatively, note Khmer ជួយ (cuəy, “to help, assist; to support; to rescue, save”) (ibid.). Even so, also note Thai ช่วย (chûai), which in turn is from Middle Chinese 助 (MC dzrjoH)); if Khmer ជួយ (cuəy) and Thai ช่วย (chûai) were related, then Khmer ជួយ (cuəy) cannot be related to Old Chinese 周 (OC *tjɯw).

dynasty's name

Attested in the Huayuanzhang East Oracle Bone Inscription HYZ 327.1 (transliterated and translated by Schwartz, 2019)

周入亖 [Pre-Classical Chinese]  ―  Zhōu rù sì [Pinyin]  ―  Zhou contributes four

A 周方白 (Zhōufāng bó, “Elder of Zhou region”), likely King Wen of Zhou, was mentioned in Oracle Bone Inscriptions H11:82 and H11:84 (Lin, 1995)

Hargett (2021) states that 商 (Shāng) and 周 (Zhōu) derived from names of "places that the rulers and people of those eras regarded as their homeland or cultic centers"; the 周方 (Zhōufāng, “Zhou region”) was among "areas or regions along the frontier borders of Shang, traditionally regarded as enemy territory".

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): zhōu (zhou¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄡ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): zou¹

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): zau¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): ziu¹

• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): chû

  (Hailu, HRS): zhiu^ˋ

  (Meixian, Guangdong): zu¹

• Eastern Min (BUC): ciŭ
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): ziu¹
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): chiu

  (Teochew, Peng'im): ziu¹

  (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): jiu¹

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ¹tseu

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhōu
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄡ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhou
    • Wade–Giles: chou¹
    • Yale: jōu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jou
    • Palladius: чжоу (čžou)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: zou¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: zou
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡səu⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: zau¹
    • Yale: jāu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzau¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: zeo¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: ziu¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siu³³/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chû
    • Hakka Romanization System: zu^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: zu¹
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡su²⁴/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: zhiu^ˋ
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡ʃiu⁵³/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: zu¹
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡su⁴⁴/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: ciŭ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sieu⁵⁵/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: ziu¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siu⁵³³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Singapore)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiu
    • Tâi-lô: tsiu
    • Phofsit Daibuun: ciw
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡siu³³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Singapore): /t͡siu⁴⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: ziu¹
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsiu
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siu³³/
  • (Leizhou)
    • Leizhou Pinyin: jiu¹
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡siu³⁵/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹tseu
    • MiniDict: tseu^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹tseu
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡sɤ⁵³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 周
Mandarin	Beijing	/ʈ͡ʂou⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/ʈ͡ʂou⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/ʈ͡ʂou²¹/ /t͡sou²¹/
	Jinan	/ʈ͡ʂou²¹³/
	Qingdao	/tʃou²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/ʈ͡ʂou²⁴/
	Xi'an	/ʈ͡ʂou²¹/
	Xining	/ʈ͡ʂɯ⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/ʈ͡ʂəu⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/ʈ͡ʂou³¹/
	Ürümqi	/ʈ͡ʂɤu⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/t͡səu⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/t͡səu⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/t͡səu⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/ʈ͡ʂəu⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/ʈ͡ʂəɯ³¹/
	Hefei	/ʈ͡ʂɯ²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡səu¹¹/
	Pingyao	/ʈ͡ʂəu¹³/
	Hohhot	/t͡səu³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/t͡sɤ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/t͡sɤ⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/t͡sei³³/
	Wenzhou	/t͡ɕɤu³³/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡ɕiu³¹/
	Tunxi	/t͡ɕiu¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/ʈ͡ʂəu³³/
	Xiangtan	/ʈ͡ʂəɯ³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/t͡sɨu⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/t͡su⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/tʃu²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/t͡sɐu⁵³/
	Nanning	/t͡sɐu⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/t͡sɐu⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/t͡siu⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/t͡sieu⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/t͡siu⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/t͡siu³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/t͡siu²³/

---

• Middle Chinese: tsyuw

Rime
Character	周
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	章 (23)
Final (韻)	尤 (136)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	職流切
Baxter	tsyuw
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/t͡ɕɨu/
Pan Wuyun	/t͡ɕiu/
Shao Rongfen	/t͡ɕiəu/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/cuw/
Li Rong	/t͡ɕiu/
Wang Li	/t͡ɕĭəu/
Bernhard Karlgren	/t͡ɕi̯ə̯u/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhōu
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zau1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*tiw/

  (Zhengzhang): /*tjɯw/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	周	周
Reading #	1/2	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	zhōu	zhōu
Middle Chinese	‹ tsyuw ›	‹ tsyuw ›
Old Chinese	/*tiw/	/*tiw/
English	Zhōu (dynasty and place)	cycle; all around
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	周
Reading #	1/1
No.	17531
Phonetic component	周
Rime group	幽
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	周
Old Chinese	/*tjɯw/
Notes	甲金文象田間稼密， 爲稠初文

Definitions

周

1. to circle; to encircle

   • 齊師敗績。逐之，三周華不注。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     齐师败绩。逐之，三周华不注。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Qíshī bài jì. Zhú zhī, sān zhōu huábùzhù. [Pinyin]

     The Qi troops were completely defeated. Jin forces pursued the Qi army, whose remnants thrice circled Mount Huabuzhu.

2. circle; circumference

   四周  ―  sìzhōu  ―  surroundings

   圓周／圆周  ―  yuánzhōu  ―  circumference

   • 大城不可以不完，郭周不可以外通，……。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Guanzi, 5^th century BCE to 220 CE

     Dàchéng bùkěyǐ bùwán, guōzhōu bùkěyǐ wàitōng,....... [Pinyin]

     The city's main walls must not be incompletely built, nor the peripheral suburban walls penetrable from outsides, [...].

3. whole

   周身  ―  zhōushēn  ―  the whole body

   眾所周知／众所周知  ―  zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī  ―  as everyone knows

4. to extend everywhere

   • 自西徂東，周爰執事。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     自西徂东，周爰执事。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zì xī cú dōng, zhōu yuán zhíshì. [Pinyin]

     From the west to the east, everywhere he was at work.

   • 知周乎萬物，而道濟天下，故不過。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     知周乎万物，而道济天下，故不过。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: I Ching, 11^th – 8^th century BCE

     Zhī zhōu hū wànwù, ér dào jì tiānxià, gù bùguò. [Pinyin]

     His knowledge embraces all things, and his course is (intended to be) helpful to all under the sky; - and hence he falls into no error.

5. thorough; complete; comprehensive

   周密  ―  zhōumì  ―  thorough

   周詳／周详  ―  zhōuxiáng  ―  comprehensive

   • 子曰：「君子周而不比，小人比而不周。」 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Zǐyuē: “Jūnzǐ zhōu ér bùbǐ, xiǎorén bǐ ér bùzhōu.” [Pinyin]

     The Master said: "The gentleman is inclusive and not partial; the villain is partial and not inclusive."

   • 孟子曰：「周于利者，凶年不能殺；周于德者，邪世不能亂。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     孟子曰：「周于利者，凶年不能杀；周于德者，邪世不能乱。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Mèngzǐ yuē: “Zhōu yú lì zhě, xiōngnián bùnéng shā; zhōu yú dé zhě, xiéshì bùnéng luàn.” [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 君子是以知秦穆公之為君也，舉人之周也，舉人之壹也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     君子是以知秦穆公之为君也，举人之周也，举人之壹也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Jūnzǐ shìyǐ zhī Qín Mù gōng zhī wéi jūn yě, jǔrén zhī zhōu yě, jǔrén zhī yī yě. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 夫將者，國之輔也。輔周則國必強，輔隙則國必弱。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     夫将者，国之辅也。辅周则国必强，辅隙则国必弱。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Art of War, circa 5^th century BCE

     Fú jiàng zhě, guó zhī fǔ yě. Fǔ zhōu zé guó bì qiáng, fǔ xì zé guó bì ruò. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

6. (obsolete) side; periphery

   • 有杕之杜，生于道周。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Yǒu dì zhī dù, shēng yú dàozhōu. [Pinyin]

     There's a solitary birchleaf pear tree, that grows on the road's curve.

7. (obsolete) to suit

   • 雖不周於今之人兮，願依彭咸之遺訓。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     虽不周于今之人兮，愿依彭咸之遗训。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE

     Suī bù zhōu yú jīn zhī rén xī, yuàn yī Péng Xián zhī yíxùn. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

8. to help (e.g. financially); to relieve

   alt. forms: 賙 / 赒 (zhōu)

   周濟／周济  ―  zhōujì  ―  to relieve

   • 靡人不周，無不能止。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     靡人不周，无不能止。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Mǐ rén bù zhōu, wú bùnéng zhǐ. [Pinyin]

     There is no one who has not helped [the people]; They have not refrained on the ground of being unable.

9. (Cantonese, chiefly in the passive) to reprimand with authority; to catch

   佢上堂偷玩電話畀老師周到。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   佢上堂偷玩电话畀老师周到。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   keoi⁵ soeng⁵ tong⁴ tau¹ waan² din⁶ waa^6-2 bei² lou⁵ si¹ zau¹ dou². [Jyutping]

   He was playing on his phone during class and got caught by the teacher.

10. Classifier for circuits.; circuit; revolution

    繞場兩周／绕场两周  ―  rào chǎng liǎng zhōu  ―  to make two circuits around the arena

    地球環繞太陽一周需要約365天。 [MSC, trad.]
    地球环绕太阳一周需要约365天。 [MSC, simp.]

    Dìqiú huánrào tàiyáng yī zhōu xūyào yuē 365 tiān. [Pinyin]

    It takes around 365 days for Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun.

11. (historical) name of various dynasties
    1. (～朝) Zhou Dynasty (1046—256 BCE)

       • 周雖舊邦，其命維新。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
         周虽旧邦，其命维新。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

         From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

         Zhōu suī jiù bāng, qí mìng wéixīn. [Pinyin]

         Although Zhou was an old country,
         The [favouring] appointment lighted on it recently.

    2. Northern Zhou (557—581), one of the Northern dynasties in China
    3. Wu Zhou (690–705), established by Wu Zetian
    4. Later Zhou (951–960), one of the Five Dynasties in China
12. a surname

    周恩來／周恩来  ―  Zhōu Ēnlái  ―  Zhou Enlai / Chou En-Lai (the first Premier of the People's Republic of China)

Descendants

• → English: Zhou, Chou, Chow, Chau, Chew, Chiu

See also

Dynasties (朝代) in Chinese history
Name	Time period	Divisions
Xia 夏 (～朝, ～代)	2070 – 1600 BCE
Shang 商 (～朝, ～代) 殷 (～朝, ～代)	1600 – 1046 BCE
Zhou 周 (～朝, ～代)	1046 – 256 BCE	Western Zhou 西周
		Eastern Zhou 東周 / 东周	Spring and Autumn period 春秋
			Warring States period 戰國 / 战国
Qin 秦 (～朝, ～代)	221 – 206 BCE
Han 漢 / 汉 (～朝, ～代)	206 BCE – 220 C.E.	Western Han 西漢 / 西汉
		Xin 新 (～朝)
		Eastern Han 東漢 / 东汉
Three Kingdoms 三國 / 三国	220 – 280 C.E.	Wei 魏
		Shu Han 蜀漢 / 蜀汉
		Wu 吳 / 吴
Jin 晉 / 晋 (～朝, ～代)	265 – 420 C.E.	Western Jin 西晉 / 西晋
		Eastern Jin 東晉 / 东晋
Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝	420 – 589 C.E.	Northern dynasties 北朝	Northern Wei 北魏
			Western Wei 西魏
			Eastern Wei 東魏 / 东魏
			Northern Zhou 北周
			Northern Qi 北齊 / 北齐
		Southern dynasties 南朝	Liu Song 劉宋 / 刘宋
			Southern Qi 南齊 / 南齐
			Liang 梁 (～朝, ～代)
			Chen 陳 / 陈 (～朝, ～代)
Sui 隋 (～朝, ～代)	581 – 618 C.E.
Tang 唐 (～朝, ～代)	618 – 907 C.E.
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 五代十國 / 五代十国	907 – 960 C.E.
Liao 遼 / 辽 (～朝, ～代)	907 – 1125 C.E.
Song 宋 (～朝, ～代)	960 – 1279 C.E.	Northern Song 北宋
		Southern Song 南宋
Western Xia 西夏	1038 – 1227 C.E.
Jin 金 (～朝, ～代)	1115 – 1234 C.E.
Western Liao 西遼 / 西辽	1124 – 1218 C.E.
Yuan 元 (～朝, ～代)	1271 – 1368 C.E.
Ming 明 (～朝, ～代)	1368 – 1644 C.E.
Qing 清 (～朝, ～代)	1636 – 1912 C.E.

Compounds

• 不周 (bùzhōu)
• 不周到
• 不周山 (bùzhōushān)
• 不周延 (bùzhōuyán)
• 不周風 / 不周风
• 不食周粟 (bù shí Zhōu sù)
• 二周
• 伊周 (yīzhōu)
• 假意周旋
• 光周期
• 八步周行
• 北周 (Běizhōu)
• 周事
• 周備 / 周备
• 周內 / 周内
• 周全 (zhōuquán)
• 周全方便
• 周公吐哺
• 周到 (zhōudào)
• 周匝 (zhōuzā)
• 周南 (Zhōunán)
• 周原 (Zhōuyuán)
• 周口 (Zhōukǒu, “Zhoukou”)
• 周口店 (Zhōukǒudiàn, “Zhoukoudian”)
• 周召
• 周召共和
• 周圍 / 周围 (zhōuwéi)
• 周堂
• 周塘 (Zhōutáng)
• 周天 (zhōutiān)
• 周字框 (zhōuzìkuàng)
• 周官 (Zhōuguān)
• 周室
• 周家灣 / 周家湾 (Zhōujiāwān)
• 周密 (zhōumì)
• 周寨 (Zhōuzhài)
• 周巷 (Zhōuxiàng)
• 周年 (zhōunián)
• 周年視差 / 周年视差
• 周延 (zhōuyán)
• 周忌
• 周急 (zhōují)
• 周急繼乏 / 周急继乏
• 周恤
• 周情孔思
• 周折 (zhōuzhé)
• 周方
• 周旋 (zhōuxuán)
• 周旋到底
• 周易 (Zhōuyì)
• 周晬
• 周書 / 周书
• 周朝 (Zhōucháo)
• 周期彗星
• 周楊 / 周杨 (Zhōuyáng)
• 周樓 / 周楼 (Zhōulóu)
• 周正
• 周氏 (Zhōushì)
• 周波 (zhōubō)
• 周流 (zhōuliú)
• 周浹 / 周浃
• 周溪 (Zhōuxī)
• 周潭 (Zhōután)
• 周濟 / 周济 (zhōujì)
• 周率
• 周禮 / 周礼 (zhōulǐ)
• 周程張朱 / 周程张朱
• 周給 / 周给
• 周緣 / 周缘
• 周置
• 周老嘴 (Zhōulǎozuǐ)
• 周而不比
• 周而復始 / 周而复始 (zhōu'érfùshǐ)
• 周至 (Zhōuzhì)
• 周臺 / 周台 (Zhōutái)
• 周行
• 周衛 / 周卫
• 周覽 / 周览
• 周角 (zhōujiǎo)
• 周詳 / 周详 (zhōuxiáng)
• 周誥 / 周诰
• 周身 (zhōushēn)
• 周轉 / 周转 (zhōuzhuǎn)
• 周轉不靈 / 周转不灵
• 周遊 / 周游 (zhōuyóu)
• 周遍 (zhōubiàn)
• 周道
• 周遮
• 周遭 (zhōuzāo)
• 周邊 / 周边 (zhōubiān)
• 周邊設備 / 周边设备 (zhōubiān shèbèi)
• 周郎
• 周郎癖
• 周郎顧曲 / 周郎顾曲
• 周集 (Zhōují)
• 周章 (zhōuzhāng)
• 周章狼狽 / 周章狼狈 (zhōuzhānglángbèi)
• 周頌 / 周颂
• 周髀
• 四周 (sìzhōu)
• 圓周 / 圆周 (yuánzhōu)
• 圓周率 / 圆周率 (yuánzhōulǜ)
• 圓周角 / 圆周角 (yuánzhōujiǎo)
• 圓周運動 / 圆周运动 (yuánzhōu yùndòng)
• 夢周公 / 梦周公
• 大周 (Dàzhōu)
• 大費周折 / 大费周折
• 大費周章 / 大费周章 (dàfèizhōuzhāng)
• 如所周知
• 嫠憂宗周 / 嫠忧宗周
• 宗周
• 宗周鐘 / 宗周钟
• 宛轉周折 / 宛转周折
• 寬打周遭 / 宽打周遭
• 小周 (Xiǎozhōu)
• 岐周
• 後周 / 后周 (Hòuzhōu)
• 徐周 (Xúzhōu)
• 慮周行果 / 虑周行果
• 慮無不周 / 虑无不周
• 成周
• 新聞周刊 / 新闻周刊
• 智周
• 會合周期 / 会合周期
• 有周
• 朋黨比周 / 朋党比周
• 東周 / 东周 (Dōngzhōu)
• 比周
• 深文周納 / 深文周纳
• 煞費周章 / 煞费周章
• 牙周 (yázhōu)
• 牙周病 (yázhōubìng)
• 白馬歸周 / 白马归周
• 眾所周知 / 众所周知 (zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī)
• 禮數周到 / 礼数周到
• 莊周夢蝶 / 庄周梦蝶 (zhuāngzhōumèngdié)
• 西周 (Xīzhōu)
• 試周 / 试周
• 譙周獨笑 / 谯周独笑
• 費周章 / 费周章
• 逸周書 / 逸周书 (Yì Zhōu Shū)
• 顧曲周郎 / 顾曲周郎

 

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 周 – see 週 (“week; circumference; etc.”). (This character is the simplified and variant traditional form of 週).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Usage notes

This variant form is the name of the second tetragram of the Taixuanjing (𝌇), as listed in the ancient text.

Etymology 3

trad.		周
simp. #		周
alternative forms		舟 州

Pronunciation

• Cantonese (Jyutping): zau¹

---

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: zau¹
    • Yale: jāu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzau¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: zeo¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

Definitions

周

1. (Cantonese) penis (Classifier: 條／条 c)

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 陰莖 (“penis; male genitalia”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		玉莖, 陽具, 陽物, 陰體, 人道, 身根
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		陰莖, 陽具, 男根
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	雞巴, 卵子, 家伙, 帽兒, 大帽兒, 雀子 †, 小雞兒 †, 小蟲兒 †
	Taiwan	雞雞, 屌, 肉棒, 老二, 命根, 命根子, 小弟弟, 小鳥 †, 小雞雞 †
	Harbin	雞巴, 雞巴嘚兒, 雞巴頭子, 嘚兒, 牛子, 老二, 二哥, 腿兒, 牛牛兒 †, 小牛子 †, 家雀兒 †
	Singapore	小鳥 †
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	屌, 小雞兒 †, 小雞雞 †
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai (Muping)	鴨子, 雞子, 雞巴, 屌, 小鴨兒 †
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	雞巴, 屌, 膀, 雞巴兒 †, 小雞兒雞兒 †
	Wanrong	鴨子, 鴨兒 †
	Xi'an	㞗, 錘子, 牛牛兒 †
	Xining	雞巴, 㞗, 錘子, 雞雞 †
	Xuzhou	屌, 雞巴, 雞尜尜, 屌頭子, 老二, 二哥, 一家人兒, 打種的 dated, 小雞兒 †, 雞兒 †, 尜尜 †, 小老雀兒 †, 老雀兒 †
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	㞗
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	㞗, 雞巴, 雞雞 †
	Lanzhou	㞗, 牛牛子 †
	Ürümqi	㞗, 㞗把子, 錘子, 雞雞 †, 㞗㞗 †
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	錘子, 雞巴, 雞棍兒, 雞兒, 雀雀兒, 雀雀, 麻雀兒, 毛鰱魚, 老二, 㞗, 雞雞 †, 小雞兒 †, 小麻雀兒 †, 小雀雀兒 †
	Chongqing	錘子, 卵, 鷄兒, 鴨兒, 雀雀兒, 鷄巴, 㞗, 牙刷兒
	Wuhan	鴨蒂, 雞巴, 卵, 雀雀 †, 鴨鴨 †, 雞雞 †
	Guiyang	雞巴, 大雞巴, 乾雞巴, 馬雞巴, 卵子, 㞗, 屌, 下二哥, 二哥, 甩甩, 錘錘 dated, 錘子 dated, 雞雞 †, 小雞兒 †, 雞兒 †, 麻雀 †, 小麻雀 †, 雀雀 †
	Liuzhou	鳥, 卵, 二老爺, 大頭蟲, 鳥崽 †
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	雞巴, 屌, 麻雀, 小麻雀兒 †
	Yangzhou	雞巴, 屌子, 屌, 卵子, 麻雀子 †
	Nantong	屌兒, 屌
	Hefei	屌, 雞巴, 尕尕雞 †, 尕雞 †
	Huanggang	卵, 雞巴
Cantonese	Guangzhou	鳩, 𨳍, 𡳞, 賓周, 小便, 祠堂, 脧 †, 脧脧 †, 鳩脧 †, 脧仔 †, 咕咕 †, 雀仔 †, 慈姑椗 †
	Hong Kong	鳩, 𨳍, 𡳞, 賓周, 周, 周周, 雀, 弟弟, 細佬, 何B仔, 子孫根, 祠堂, 第三隻腳, 第五肢, 是非根, J slang, 丁 slang, 丁丁 slang, 腸 slang, 腸仔 slang, 嘢 euphemistic, 脧 †, 脧脧 †, 脧脧仔 †, 咕咕 †, 雀仔 †, 慈姑椗 †
	Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)	𡳞, 鵝仔 †
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	鵝仔, 𡳞
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	𡳞, 𡳞仔 †
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	𡳞
	Macau	鳩
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	鳩, 𨳍
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	鳩
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	鳩
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	鳩
	Foshan	鳩
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	鳩
	Foshan (Shunde)	鳩
	Foshan (Sanshui)	鳩, 𨳍
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	鳩
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	鳩, 𨳍
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	𨳍
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	鳩脧, 𨳍
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	𨳍, 鳩
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	雀, 𡳞
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	𡳞, 鳩
	Taishan	𡳞, 雀 †, 雀仔 †
	Kaiping (Chikan)	𡳞, 𨳍
	Enping (Niujiang)	𡳞, 𨳍
	Heshan (Yayao)	𨳍
	Dongguan	𡳞, 鵝必 †
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	𡳞
	Qingyuan	鳩
	Fogang	𨳍
	Yingde (Hanguang)	鳩
	Yangshan	巧
	Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui)	巧
	Shaoguan	𨳍
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	鳩
	Renhua	𡳞子
	Lechang	雞巴, 𨳍
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	鳩
	Sihui	巧, 鳩, 𨳍
	Guangning	巧
	Deqing	屌, 𨳍
	Huaiji	鳩
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	鳩
	Yunfu	𨳍
	Xinxing	𨳍
	Luoding	𨳍
	Yunan (Pingtai)	鳩
	Yangjiang	鳩, 𨳍
	Xinyi	𨳍
	Nanning	𨳍
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	鳩脧
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	𡳞, 鳩, 𨳍
	Ipoh (Guangfu)	屌, 𨳍, 𡳞, 咕咕, 雀仔, 水喉, 大鵰, 賓周, 慈姑椗
	Singapore (Guangfu)	𡳞, 鳩, 𨳍
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	賓周
Gan	Nanchang	卵, 卵雞子 †, 卵雞 †
	Lichuan	卵, 老二
	Pingxiang	卵, 卵仔 †, 雞仔 †
Hakka	Meixian	𡳞棍, 𡳞仔, 𡳞, 脧, 脧仔 †
	Xingning	脧哩, 𡳞棍
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	𡳞, 𡳞棍, 脧 †, 咕咕 †
	Huidong (Daling)	𡳞棍, 脧仔
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	脧
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	脧
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	𡳞, 脧
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	𨳍
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	脧哩, 𡳞棍
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	脧哩, 脧, 𡳞棍
	Wuhua (Changbu)	脧
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	脧哩, 𡳞棍
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	𡳞
	Wengyuan	𡳞子
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	𡳞棍
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	𡳞棍, 脧
	Liannan	脧子
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	𨳍
	Jiexi	脧
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	𡳞
	Changting	𡳞子, 𡳞
	Wuping	𡳞
	Wuping (Yanqian)	𡳞子
	Wuping (Pingyu)	𡳞
	Liancheng	𡳞, 脧
	Ninghua	脧
	Yudu	卵, 卵子 †, 尒卵子 †
	Ningdu	卵
	Ruijin	卵陀
	Shicheng	卵梗
	Shangyou (Shexi)	卵
	Tonggu (Sandu)	卵子
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	卵
	Dayu	卵
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	𡳞, 脧, 脧仔
	Miaoli (Zaoqiao; N. Sixian)	脧仔
	Miaoli (Touwu; N. Sixian)	脧仔
	Miaoli (Nanzhuang; N. Sixian)	𡳞棍
	Miaoli (Shitan; N. Sixian)	𡳞棍
	Miaoli (Sanwan; N. Sixian)	𡳞棍
	Miaoli (Toufen; N. Sixian)	𡳞棍
	Miaoli (Gongguan; N. Sixian)	𡳞, 𡳞棍, 脧仔
	Miaoli (Zhuolan; N. Sixian)	𡳞棍, 脧仔
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	𡳞
	Pingtung (Wuluo, Ligang; S. Sixian)	𡳞
	Kaohsiung (Meinong; S. Sixian)	𡳞, 脧仔
	Kaohsiung (Shanlin; S. Sixian)	𡳞
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	𡳞棍
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	𡳞棍
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	𡳞棍
	Miaoli (Zhuolan; Raoping)	脧
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	脧子
	Hong Kong	𡳞, 脧 †
	Mengshan (Xihe)	𡳞
	Luchuan	脧
	Sabah (Bao'an)	𡳞棍, 𡳞
	Sabah (Longchuan)	脧仔
	Senai (Huiyang)	𡳞棍
	Singkawang	脧
Huizhou	Jixi	鳥, 老八鳥, 八鳥
	Shexian	鳥
	Huangshan (Tunxi)	雞兒, 鳥兒
	Xiuning	鳥, 卵, 雞兒, 雞雞 †, 下身 euphemistic
	Yixian	卵
	Qimen	屌兒
	Wuyuan	菩蒂
Jin	Taiyuan	㞗, 雞巴, 雀兒, 雞雞 †, 狗雞兒 †
	Taiyuan (Jiancaoping)	雞巴, 㞗
	Pingyao	㞗兒, 秤桿, 狗雞兒 †, 雞兒 †, 狗雞雞 †
	Xinzhou	㞗, 雞巴, 雞雞, 二掌櫃, 小腹, 雞溜子 †, 雞溜 †, 毛㞗 of an adult
	Shenmu	㞗, 屌子, 雞溜子, 雞雞 †, 沙奶奶 †
Northern Min	Jian'ou	𫵓, 𫵓仔, 𫵓𫵓仔 †
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	𫵓
	Songxi	𫵓
	Zhenghe	𫵓
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	𫵓牯
	Jianyang	𫵓
	Wuyishan	脧
	Pucheng (Shibei)	脧
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	欛欛, 䐯鳥, 欛欛囝 †, 鳥鳥囝 †, 䐯鳥囝 †
	Fuzhou (Changle)	欛欛囝
	Fuqing	䐯, 鳥 †
	Yongtai	䐯鳥
	Gutian	䐯鳥
	Fu'an	䐯鳥
	Ningde	䐯
	Shouning	䐯鳥
	Zhouning	䐯鳥
	Fuding	䐯䐯, 䐯鳥
	Matsu	欛欛
Southern Min	Xiamen	𡳞鳥, 𡳞𦉎, 𡳞, 鳥仔 †
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	𡳞鳥
	Quanzhou	𡳞鳥, 𡳞𦉎, 𡳞, 鳥仔 †
	Jinjiang	𡳞鳥
	Anxi	𡳞鳥
	Yongchun	𡳞鳥
	Zhangzhou	𡳞鳥, 𡳞𦉎, 𡳞, 鳥仔 †
	Zhangpu	𡳞
	Zhao'an	𡳞鳥
	Dongshan	𡳞鳥, 𡳞鳥仔 †
	Taipei	𡳞鳥
	Taipei (Wanhua)	𡳞鳥
	New Taipei (Tamsui)	𡳞鳥
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	𡳞鳥
	New Taipei (Pingxi)	𡳞鳥
	Kaohsiung	𡳞鳥
	Kaohsiung (Cijin)	𡳞鳥
	Kaohsiung (Hongmaogang, Siaogang)	𡳞鳥
	Kaohsiung (Dalinpu, Siaogang)	𡳞鳥
	Kaohsiung (Tianliao)	𡳞鳥
	Yilan	𡳞鳥
	Yilan (Luodong)	𡳞鳥
	Yilan (Toucheng)	𡳞鳥
	Changhua (Lukang)	𡳞鳥
	Taichung	𡳞鳥
	Taichung (Wuqi)	𡳞鳥
	Tainan	𡳞鳥, 戛, 訶
	Tainan (Anping)	𡳞鳥
	Taitung	𡳞鳥
	Hsinchu	𡳞鳥
	Kinmen	𡳞鳥
	Penghu (Magong)	𡳞鳥
	Penghu (Xiyu)	𡳞鳥
	Penang (Hokkien)	𡳞鳥, 𡳞, 小弟, 咕咕鳥, 咕咕
	Singapore (Hokkien)	𡳞鳥, 𡳞, 弟弟, 小弟, 咕咕鳥 †, childish
	Manila (Hokkien)	𡳞鳥
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	𡳞, 𡳞公仔 †
	Datian	𡳞鳥
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	鳩
	Chaozhou	𡳞鳥, 𡳞
	Raoping	𡳞鳥, 𡳞
	Shantou	𡳞鳥, 𡳞
	Shantou (Chenghai)	𡳞
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	𡳞鳥
	Nan'ao (Houzhai)	𡳞
	Nan'ao (Yun'ao)	𡳞
	Jieyang	𡳞鳥, 𡳞, 鳥 †, 龜鳥 †
	Haifeng	𡳞鳥
	Bangkok (Teochew)	鳥, 𡳞, 𡳞鳥囝 †
	Chiang Mai (Teochew)	𡳞
	Hat Yai (Teochew)	𡳞, 𡳞鳥囝 †
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	𡳞
	Singapore (Teochew)	𡳞鳥, 𡳞
	Leizhou	𡳞, 鳥, 殼車, 家私, 尻川柄
	Wenchang	頹
	Haikou	頹, 鳥 †
Puxian Min	Putian	𡳞, 𡳞囝
	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	𡳞, 𡳞鳥, 𡳞鳥囝 †
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	𡳞, 𡳞囝
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	𡳞, 𡳞囝, 𡳞鳥 †, 𡳞鳥囝 †
	Xianyou	𡳞, 𡳞鳥, 𡳞鳥囝 †
	Xianyou (Fengting)	𡳞, 𡳞鳥, 𡳞鳥囝 †
	Xianyou (Youyang)	𡳞, 𡳞鳥, 𡳞鳥囝 †
Central Min	Yong'an	脧
	Sanming (Sanyuan)	脧
	Sanming (Shaxian)	脧仔
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Sanxiang)	卵, 卵脬
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	𨳍, 麻鳥, 二老弟, 慈姑椗 †
Shehua	Fu'an	𡳞仔
	Fuding	𡳞仔
	Luoyuan	𡳞仔
	Sanming	𡳞仔
	Shunchang	𡳞仔
	Hua'an	𡳞仔
	Guixi (Zhangping)	𡳞仔
	Cangnan	𡳞仔
	Jingning (Hexi)	𡳞
	Lishui	𡳞
	Longyou	𡳞鳥
	Chaozhou	𡳞仔
	Fengshun	𡳞仔
Wu	Shanghai	卵, 屌屌 †, 屌屌頭 †, 小雞雞 †, 麻鳥 †
	Shanghai (Chongming)	卵, 卵子, 卵卵 †, 小尿螺 †
	Suzhou	卵, 鳥, 雞雞 †, 小卵 †, 長生果 †
	Wuxi	卵
	Danyang	卵, 卵子, 屌子, 屌, 雞巴, 雞雞 †, 小雀雀 †, 雀雀 †, 八八 †, 八雞 †
	Hangzhou	雀兒, 八屌, 卵脬, 小八屌 †, 麻雀兒 †, 麻油壺兒 †
	Ningbo	卵, 卵子, 卵瓜瓜 †, 瓜瓜 †
	Wenzhou	頹, 卵脬, 卵脬兒, 臀卵脬, 脬兒 †, 脬脬兒 †, 奶哥鳥兒 †
	Jinhua	老八兒, 聊子, 雀, 雞巴, 八兒八兒 †
Xiang	Changsha	卵, 雞巴, 掉它, 太鬍子, 雞雞 †, 鳥鳥 †, 鳥 †, 梗梗 †
	Loudi	雞巴, 卵, 勺欛腦殼, 雞雞 †, 雞崽唧 †
	Shuangfeng	卵子, 雞蓀子 †
	Quanzhou	屌把
Note	† - of a boy

Compounds

• 周周
• 賓周 / 宾周

 

References

• “周”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[3], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00559

Japanese

Shinjitai	周
Kyūjitai	周 周 or 周+︀?
	周󠄀 周+󠄀? (Adobe-Japan1)
	周󠄃 周+󠄃? (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho)
The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment. See here for details.

Kanji

周

(Fourth grade kyōiku kanji, shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai form 周)

1. circumference
2. circuit
3. lap

Readings

• Go-on: しゅ (shu)^{←しゆ (syu, historical)}、す (su)
• Kan-on: しゅう (shū, Jōyō)^{←しう (siu, historical)}
• Kun: まわり (mawari, 周り, Jōyō)^{←まはり (mafari, 周り, historical)}、あまねく (amaneku, 周く)、あまねし (amaneshi, 周し)、めぐる (meguru, 周る)
• Nanori: あまね (amane)、あまねし (amaneshi)、いたる (itaru)、かた (kata)、かぬ (kanu)、かね (kane)、ただ (tada)、ちか (chika)、ちかし (chikashi)、なり (nari)、のり (nori)、ひろし (hiroshi)、まこと (makoto)

Compounds

• 周(しゅう)南(なん) (Shūnan, “Shūnan”)
• 周(しゅう)波(は)数(すう) (shūhasū, “frequency”)

Etymology

Kanji in this term
周
しゅう Grade: 4
on'yomi

From Middle Chinese 周 (MC tsyuw).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) しゅう [shúꜜù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ɕɨː]

Counter

周(しゅう) • (-shū) ^{←しう (-siu)?}

1. laps or circuits

Proper noun

周(しゅう) • (Shū) ^{←しう (Siu)?}

1. Zhou

Proper noun

周(まこと) • (Makoto) 

1. a male given name

Proper noun

周(あまね) • (Amane) 

1. a male given name

   西(にし)周(あまね)

   Nishi Amane

   Nishi Amane (Meiji period philosopher)

Korean

Hanja

周 (eumhun 두루 주 (duru ju))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Compounds

• 주위 (周圍, juwi)
• 주전 (周全, jujeon)
• 주년 (周年, junyeon)
• 주변 (周邊, jubyeon)
• 주파수 (周波數, jupasu)
• 주도면밀 (周到綿密, judomyeonmil)

Vietnamese

Han character

周: Hán Việt readings: chu, châu
周: Nôm readings: chu, châu

1. chữ Hán form of Chu (“a surname.”).
2. chữ Hán form of Châu (“a surname.”).

Usage notes

Chu is the original Hán-Việt reading of this character and related ones according to Thiều Chửu. However, naming taboos for Nguyễn Phúc Chu (阮福淍) led to the reading Châu being used instead for this character, especially in the south of Vietnam, based on a tradition of u/âu sound swaps. Currently, both readings are in use.