周

Originally a pictograph in oracle bone script (甲骨文 jiǎgǔwén), depicting a decorated jade vessel with floral patterns, symbolizing something encircling or complete.

Later reanalyzed as a phono-semantic compound: sometimes interpreted as 用 (“to use”) + 口 (“mouth”), though this is a later reinterpretation rather than the original.

Over time, the sense shifted to “encompassing, thorough,” and the graphic split off into characters like 彫, 琱 for carving/engraving.

Semantic range:

- all around, complete, thorough (두루, 주도면밀);

- circumference, cycle (윤회, 주기);

- week (modern Chinese 週/周);

- the Zhou dynasty, a proper noun (주나라 周).

周到 (주도) — thorough, attentive

周圍 (주위) — surroundings, circumference

周期 (주기) — cycle, period

一周 (일주) — one lap, one week

周朝 (주조) — Zhou dynasty

In ancient China, 周 (Zhou) was the name of one of the most influential dynasties (1046–256 BCE), remembered for its feudal system and for laying much of the groundwork for later Confucian political philosophy.

In modern Chinese, 周 is commonly used as the simplified form of 週 “week.”

As a surname (周), it remains widespread in China, Taiwan, and Korea.

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.