<p>Sorry I don't know this word's etymology. But maybe understand the synonym helps to remember.</p>
<p>As far as I know, 周到 has nearly the same meaning as 面面俱到（miàn miàn jù dào）.
周 (zhōu) is like 面面（miàn miàn）, meaning in almost all aspects; and 到 (​dào) means taking care of it. So that 周到 means taking care of all aspects, that is thoughtful.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-19T03:14:55.607Z
That is right. 周到 means **各**方面都照顾**到**. @Becky 李蓓♦ As you mentioned, 周 (zhōu) has the meaning of thorough, in **各**方面. 到 is in 照顾**到**. Why 周 has the meaning of thorough (周到) and to help financially (周转资金)? Because the basic meaning of 周 is making it circle, a angle of 360°. 周到 is planning something in all aspects/perspectives (360°) and planning it deeply. 周转 is transferring funds to help someone, i.e., transferring funds to make it a loop.
Bósài
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-19T03:00:20.813Z
2020-12-19T03:00:20.813Z
bambooom
<p>周 - everywhere (all aspects)</p>
<p>到 - reach (attend to)</p>
<p>周到 (attended to all aspect) = thoughtful / considerate / attentive / thorough</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>服务周到; 服待周到 (attentive service)</p>
<p>想得周到 (think of everything - not missing anything)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-19T03:08:39.737Z
2020-12-19T03:13:47.570Z
2020-12-19T03:13:47.570Z
Tang Ho
<p>周 can be taken as 周边 or 四周(everywhere around).</p>
<p>到 can be 到达(reached or arrived).</p>
<p>周到，as a whole, can be understood as <em><strong>reached everywhere around</strong></em>.</p>
<p>So, metaphorically, &quot;reached everywhere&quot; suggests &quot;<em><strong>having considered all the aspects</strong></em>&quot;, hence &quot;<em><strong>it's thoughtful</strong></em>&quot;.</p>
<p>In Chinese, we say: 周到代表'<strong>周</strong>'围四周都照顾'<strong>到</strong>'了。It's close to the English word &quot;thoughtful&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T00:19:26.640Z
2020-12-20T00:25:59.303Z
2020-12-20T00:25:59.303Z
dan
<p>I'm trying to learn the few remaining HSK5 words I haven't fully learned yet.  This one I keep forgetting:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>周到 (zhōu​dào / zhōu​dao)<br />
<a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%91%A8%E5%88%B0" rel="noreferrer">CC-CEDICT</a>: thoughtful / considerate / attentive / thorough</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It would help to understand the underlying logic here, but I can't figure it out: 周到 seems like the combinations of two random characters.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>周 (zhōu)<br />
<a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%91%A8" rel="noreferrer">CC-CEDICT</a>: to make a circuit / to circle / circle / circumference / lap / cycle / complete / all / all over / thorough / to help financially</p>
<p>到 (​dào)<br />
<a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%88%B0" rel="noreferrer">CC-CEDICT</a>: to (a place) / until (a time) / up to / to go / to arrive / (verb complement denoting completion or result of an action)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I get nothing from this, and googling <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%E5%91%A8%E5%88%B0+etymology" rel="noreferrer"><code>周到 etymology</code></a> didn't give anything useful.</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: How does 周到 mean &quot;thoughtful&quot;?</p>

<meaning><etymology>
How does 周到 mean "thoughtful"?
# How does 周到 mean "thoughtful"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-19)

I'm trying to learn the few remaining HSK5 words I haven't fully learned yet. This one I keep forgetting:

> 周到 (zhōu​dào / zhōu​dao)  
> [CC-CEDICT](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%91%A8%E5%88%B0): thoughtful / considerate / attentive / thorough

It would help to understand the underlying logic here, but I can't figure it out: 周到 seems like the combinations of two random characters.

> 周 (zhōu)  
> [CC-CEDICT](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%91%A8): to make a circuit / to circle / circle / circumference / lap / cycle / complete / all / all over / thorough / to help financially
>
> 到 (​dào)  
> [CC-CEDICT](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%88%B0): to (a place) / until (a time) / up to / to go / to arrive / (verb complement denoting completion or result of an action)

I get nothing from this, and googling [`周到 etymology`](https://www.google.com/search?q=%E5%91%A8%E5%88%B0+etymology) didn't give anything useful.

**Question**: How does 周到 mean "thoughtful"?

**Tags:** meaning, etymology


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-12-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

周 can be taken as 周边 or 四周(everywhere around).

到 can be 到达(reached or arrived).

周到，as a whole, can be understood as ***reached everywhere around***.

So, metaphorically, "reached everywhere" suggests "***having considered all the aspects***", hence "***it's thoughtful***".

In Chinese, we say: 周到代表'**周**'围四周都照顾'**到**'了。It's close to the English word "thoughtful".


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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-19. Score: 4

Sorry I don't know this word's etymology. But maybe understand the synonym helps to remember.

As far as I know, 周到 has nearly the same meaning as 面面俱到（miàn miàn jù dào）.
周 (zhōu) is like 面面（miàn miàn）, meaning in almost all aspects; and 到 (​dào) means taking care of it. So that 周到 means taking care of all aspects, that is thoughtful.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: That is right. 周到 means **各**方面都照顾**到**. @username_0♦ As you mentioned, 周 (zhōu) has the meaning of thorough, in **各**方面. 到 is in 照顾**到**. Why 周 has the meaning of thorough (周到) and to help financially (周转资金)? Because the basic meaning of 周 is making it circle, a angle of 360°. 周到 is planning something in all aspects/perspectives (360°) and planning it deeply. 周转 is transferring funds to help someone, i.e., transferring funds to make it a loop.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-12-19. Score: 4

周 - everywhere (all aspects)

到 - reach (attend to)

周到 (attended to all aspect) = thoughtful / considerate / attentive / thorough

Example:

服务周到; 服待周到 (attentive service)

想得周到 (think of everything - not missing anything)


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