'Xún kān' literally means 'ten-day publication'—a periodical issued once every ten days. The character 旬 (xún) historically refers to a ten-day period, one-third of a lunar month, while 刊 (kān) means 'to publish' or 'periodical'. Together, they form a formal, slightly literary term for any regularly scheduled publication released on a ten-day cycle, such as specialized industry magazines, internal bulletins, or government newsletters.

This term is more common in formal, institutional, or journalistic contexts than in everyday speech. It's distinct from more frequent terms like 月刊 (yuèkān, 'monthly') or 周刊 (zhōukān, 'weekly'). While rare in digital media today, 旬刊 still appears in official communications, academic journals, and certain regional publications—especially where precise scheduling across the lunar calendar matters. Its use signals regularity, administrative structure, and traditional timekeeping.