定期 (dìng qī) — (verb) to set a fixed date or period; (adjectiv… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

定期 means 'on a set schedule' — describes things that happen at fixed, recurring intervals. Unlike 正常 ('normal/usual') or 通常 ('typically'), it stresses a planned, regular cycle rather than what's common or expected.

verb

to set a fixed date or period

adjective

regularperiodicfixed-term

Examples

定期。
Wǒ měi nián dōu dìng yí fèn dìng qī zá zhì.
I subscribe to a regular magazine every year.
定期。
Zhè jiā gōng sī de dìng qī yuán gōng yǒu sān shí rén.
This company has thirty regular employees.
定期。
Zhè cì bǐ sài dìng qī yú míng nián sān yuè jǔ xíng.
This competition is scheduled to take place next March.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

期qīperiod

定 gives setting, and 期 gives a period; together they mean a fixed term.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

正

正zhèng定dìng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

其

其qí期qī

Same sound today

The original form paired 其 for its sound with 日 (sun). A related form changed that sun to 月, and this later developed into 期.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Frequency & Duration

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