<p>The blunt answer is 'we don't' know.'</p>
<p>The simple answer is 'look into context.'</p>
<p>You pretty much answered your own question.</p>
<p>It reminds me of a post I made sometime ago</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,143206,143206#msg-143206" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,143206,143206#msg-143206</a></p>
<p>In a different context, 傷心地 could simply mean &quot;sorrowly&quot; as in 傷心地告別 (sorrowly say goodbye)</p>
<p>But it can be a term for &quot;a place that evokes deep sorrow&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-09T01:40:19.477Z
2021-09-09T02:23:10.853Z
2021-09-09T02:23:10.853Z
Tang Ho
<p>No, unfortunately, you can't figure it out until reading the whole sentence or paragraph.</p>
<p>Note that interestingly, there is a 同義字 of 周 - &quot;週&quot; which has the similar meanings, but 周 possess broader meanings.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-09T01:32:42.300Z
2021-09-09T01:32:42.300Z
r13
<blockquote>
<p>四周确诊420万人，拜登终于坐不住了</p>
</blockquote>
<p>At first I mistook it for &quot;people all around Biden&quot;, until I clicked the caption I realize it means four weeks.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-09T06:21:48.943Z
Interestingly, Mr. Google got it spot on by translating 四周确诊420万人，拜登终于坐不住了 as "4.2 million people were diagnosed in four weeks, Biden finally couldn't sit still"
Wayne Cheah
<meaning-in-context>
How do I know 四周 means "four weeks" or "all around"?
# How do I know 四周 means "four weeks" or "all around"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-09-09)

> 四周确诊420万人，拜登终于坐不住了

At first I mistook it for "people all around Biden", until I clicked the caption I realize it means four weeks.

**Tags:** meaning-in-context

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interestingly, Mr. Google got it spot on by translating 四周确诊420万人，拜登终于坐不住了 as "4.2 million people were diagnosed in four weeks, Biden finally couldn't sit still"  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-09-09. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The blunt answer is 'we don't' know.'

The simple answer is 'look into context.'

You pretty much answered your own question.

It reminds me of a post I made sometime ago

<http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,143206,143206#msg-143206>

In a different context, 傷心地 could simply mean "sorrowly" as in 傷心地告別 (sorrowly say goodbye)

But it can be a term for "a place that evokes deep sorrow"


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-09-09. Score: 1

No, unfortunately, you can't figure it out until reading the whole sentence or paragraph.

Note that interestingly, there is a 同義字 of 周 - "週" which has the similar meanings, but 周 possess broader meanings.


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