Chinese word

期间

Pronunciation

Pinyinqī jiān

Meaning

  • nounperiod

Example

暑假期间我们去了海边。shǔ jià qī jiān wǒ men qù le hǎi biān

During summer vacation, we went to the beach.

Illustration for 期间 (period)

More examples

在此期间请不要使用手机。zài cǐ qī jiān qǐng bú yào shǐ yòng shǒu jī

During this period, please do not use mobile phones.

Core concept

A bounded stretch of time that holds an event or condition from its beginning to its end.

Common phrases

  • 在此期间zài cǐ qī jiān

    during this period

  • 整个期间zhěng gè qī jiān

    the entire period

  • 休息期间xiū xī qī jiān

    break period

Similar words

时间shí jiān: The general concept of when something happens or how long it lasts.
时期shí qī: A particular period marked by a continuing state or feature.
时刻shí kè: The exact moment when an event happens.
阶段jiē duàn: A period defined by a particular step in the progress of a process.

Definition in Chinese

表示从某一开始到某一结束的一段时间，在这段时间内发生或存在某事。biǎo shì cóng mǒu yì kāi shǐ dào mǒu yì jié shù de yí duàn shí jiān zài zhè duàn shí jiān nèi fā shēng huò cún zài mǒu shì

Word origin

The compound 期间 (qījiān, "period") joins 期 (qī, "period") for a set length of time with 间 (jiān, "interval") for the interval in which it unfolds.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, a clause with this noun can sound more formal than a clause with "when," so ordinary speech often favors "when" when no specific time span needs to be named.

Other meanings

  • timenoun
  • durationnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word