旬 xún ten-day period

源How it came to be

The wrap block, closed right round the sun. Ten days tied into one bundle: the old week, which is why the same character counts the thirds of a month.

用How it is used

• A ten-day period - the month splits into 上旬 (shàngxún) days 1-10, 中旬 (zhōngxún) days 11-20, 下旬 (xiàxún) days 21-end: 三月上旬 (sānyuè shàngxún) early March.
• Also a decade of age (for elders): 年过七旬 (nián guò qīxún) over seventy years old. Useful for vague dating ('early/mid/late' in a month).

字Characters built with 旬

• 询 to ask about

词Words with 旬

• 上旬shàngxúnfirst third of a monthHSK 6
• 下旬xiàxúnlast third of the monthHSK 6
• 中旬zhōngxúnmiddle third of a monthHSK 6