欧洲 Ōuzhōu Europe (short for 欧罗巴洲)
How to remember 欧洲: 欧 Europe + 洲 continent = Europe (short for 欧罗巴洲).
Characters
How it is used
- Europe (the continent) - 欧洲国家 (Ōuzhōu guójiā) European countries.
- The 洲 (zhōu) means continent (cf. 亚洲 Yàzhōu Asia, 非洲 Fēizhōu Africa). Don't confuse with 欧盟 (Ōuméng, the EU, a political bloc).
- 欧 (Ōu) alone abbreviates Europe in compounds: 欧元 (Ōuyuán) the euro, 欧美 (Ōuměi) Europe and America.
Example sentences
- 我从没去过欧洲。 Wǒ cóngméi qùguò ōuzhōu.I've never been to Europe.
- 欧洲人喜欢喝酒。 Ōuzhōurén xǐhuān hējiǔ.Europeans like to drink wine.
- 我决定不去欧洲了。 Wǒ juédìng búqù ōuzhōu le.I decided not to go to Europe.