What does "zhou" mean?
Synonym of congee, a thick rice porridge.
Zhou
/d͡ʒoʊ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Synonym of congee, a thick rice porridge.
- Grammar: zhou is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: chou, chou dynasty, china, chow.
- Useful contrasts: Shang dynasty, given name.
- Usage evidence: As the Duke of Zhou said, "It is beneficial not to crave personal benefit."
How to use "zhou"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "zhou" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "zhou" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "zhou" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "zhou" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "zhou" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chou" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "zhou", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Synonym of congee, a thick rice porridge. uncountable
"We did, however, send them to a Chinese nursery school that fed them a daily lunch of zhou, a rice porridge with various seasonings: pickled turnips, flakes of dough sticks, green or red beans, sesame paste, or something called hot prickly mustard tubers."
- 2 A people of ancient China. plural, plural-only
- 3 the imperial dynasty of China from 1122 to 221 BC; notable for the rise of Confucianism and Taoism wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Various regions of ancient China occupied by this people, including the Fen and Wei valleys
- 2 A dynasty of rulers over this people, who conquered the Shang kingdom and nominally ruled China until their conquest by Qin in the 3rd century BC
"The history of the water sport, which began to gain international fame in the 1970s, dates back to 278 BC, when Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and official, committed suicide on the Miluo River in Hunan Province in protest of the court’s alliances and betrayals during the Zhou dynasty."
- 3 The realm of this dynasty, surrounding the Yellow River
- 4 The era of Chinese history during which this dynasty ruled
- 5 The valley of the Luo and Yi Rivers during the Eastern Zhou dynasty
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The short-lived dynasty declared by Wu Zetian during the Tang
- 7 A surname. of Chinese origin.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Shang dynastygiven name
Example
"As the Duke of Zhou said, "It is beneficial not to crave personal benefit.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "zhou"?
Common synonyms include: chou, chou dynasty, china, chow, chow dynasty, zhou dynasty.
How do you use "zhou" in a sentence?
As the Duke of Zhou said, "It is beneficial not to crave personal benefit."
How do you pronounce "zhou"?
Pronounced /d͡ʒoʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 粥 (zhōu). Doublet of jook and juk.
Etymology 2
From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin 周 (Zhōu). Doublet of Chau.