超期 (chāo jī) — to exceed the time limit; to be overdue

Definition

Verb meaning something has gone past its deadline or time limit (a project, loan, visa). Use the pattern 超期了 (has become overdue) or 超期了 + duration to show how much time it exceeds.

verb
to exceed the time limitto be overdue

Examples

  • 超期，。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù chāo jī le, wǒ men xū yào jǐn kuài wán chéng.
    This project is overdue; we need to finish it as soon as possible.
  • 超期。
    Dài kuǎn chāo jī huì chǎn shēng lì xī.
    If the loan is overdue, interest will accrue.
  • ，超期。
    Yóu yú cái liào yuán yīn, gōng qī chāo jī le yí gè yuè.
    Due to material issues, the construction period exceeded by one month.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

超chāoexceed
期qīdeadline

超 means exceed and 期 means deadline, so 超期 describes going beyond the allowed time.

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
走走zǒurun
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào超chāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, which gives the sound.

Open 超 →

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
日日rì
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.

Open 期 →

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