Ideographic: A state 州 surrounded by water 氵; 州 also provides the pronunciationRadical:

meaning for zhōu:

  • - continent
  • - island in a riverEurope
  • - abbr. for 欧罗巴洲 Asia
  • - abbr. for 亚细亚洲 Africa
  • - abbr. for 阿非利加洲 America (including North, Central and South America)
  • - the Americas
  • - abbr. for 亚美利加洲 delta (geography)