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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing a classifier for 'week' with 周 (zhōu)

    Numbers & Quantity
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    Number + 周

    Explanation

    The classifier 周 (zhōu) is a measure word meaning 'week.' It is used with numbers to count weeks, as in 两周 (two weeks) or 好几周 (quite a few weeks). It is interchangeable with 个星期 but is more concise and slightly more formal.

    Examples

    • 这个项目大概需要两周才能完成。

      Zhège xiàngmù dàgài xūyào liǎng zhōu cái néng wánchéng.

      This project will probably take about two weeks to complete.

    • 我已经好几周没去健身房了。

      Wǒ yǐjīng hǎo jǐ zhōu méi qù jiànshēnfáng le.

      I haven't been to the gym for several weeks.

    • 他在国外待了三周就回来了。

      Tā zài guówài dāi le sān zhōu jiù huílái le.

      He came back after staying abroad for only three weeks.

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