Chinese word

期限

Pronunciation

Pinyinqī xiàn

Meaning

  • nounterm

Example

合同的期限还有三个月。hé tóng de qī xiàn hái yǒu sān gè yuè

The contract has three months remaining in its term.

Illustration for 期限 (term)

More examples

请在缴纳期限前完成付款。qǐng zài jiǎo nà qī xiàn qián wán chéng fù kuǎn

Please complete the payment before the payment deadline.

Core concept

The allowed span of time viewed from its final cutoff.

Common phrases

  • 在期限内zài qī xiàn nèi

    within the term

  • 缴纳期限jiǎo nà qī xiàn

    payment deadline

  • 履行期限lǚ xíng qī xiàn

    performance deadline

Similar words

截止日期jié zhǐ rì qī: A specific calendar date by which work or documents must be submitted.
最后期限zuì hòu qī xiàn: The final point by which something must be completed.
截止时间jié zhǐ shí jiān: A specific clock time set as the cutoff for finishing work or submitting something.
时限shí xiàn: The fixed maximum length of time allowed for an action or right.

Definition in Chinese

某事必须在该时间点前完成或停止的规定时间，也可指允许持续的最长期限。mǒu shì bì xū zài gāi shí jiān diǎn qián wán chéng huò tíng zhǐ de guī dìng shí jiān yě kě zhǐ yún xǔ chí xù de zuì cháng qī xiàn

Word origin

The characters 期 (qī, "period") and 限 (xiàn, "limit") join to show a period that has a set outer boundary.

Usage tips

  • English often separates an end date from the time allowed before it, while everyday Chinese can use one noun for both views of the same time boundary.

Other meanings

  • deadlinenoun
  • maturitynoun

Opposites

  • 无限期wú xiàn qīindefinite termnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word