Chinese word

初期

Pronunciation

Pinyinchū qī

Meaning

  • nounearly stage

Example

这个病在初期很难发现。zhè ge bìng zài chū qī hěn nán fā xiàn

This disease is hard to detect in its early stages.

Illustration for 初期 (early stage)

More examples

公司在初期阶段遇到了资金短缺。gōng sī zài chū qī jiē duàn yù dào le zī jīn duǎn quē

The company faced a shortage of funds in its early stage.

Core concept

The opening stretch of a process, when its first signs or form are just becoming visible.

Common phrases

  • 初期阶段chū qī jiē duàn

    early stage

  • 初期症状chū qī zhèng zhuàng

    early symptoms

  • 初期投资chū qī tóu zī

    initial investment

Similar words

早期zǎo qī: A period near the beginning when early detection and action are especially important.
开端kāi duān: A starting event or point from which something begins.
起点qí diǎn: A position or time that serves as the beginning of an action or change.

Definition in Chinese

某一过程或事物发展中的最开始一段时间，常指出现最初状态或迹象的时期。mǒu yí guò chéng huò shì wù fā zhǎn zhōng de zuì kāi shǐ yí duàn shí jiān cháng zhǐ chū xiàn zuì chū zhuàng tài huò jì xiàng de shí qī

Word origin

初期 (chūqī, "early stage") combines 初 (chū, "first") + 期 (qī, "period"), linking the idea of beginning with a defined span of time.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can use this noun for a beginning phase, but it does not by itself mean that an action happened ahead of schedule.

Other meanings

  • early periodnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word