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活期 (huó qī) — (adjective, banking) current, checking, demand (referring to accounts or deposits that can be withdrawn at any time)

Definition

活期 is a banking term meaning 'current / checking / demand' — used only for accounts or deposits you can withdraw from anytime, not 'current' in the sense of 'now' (现在) or 'in effect' (现行). Its opposite is 定期 ('fixed-term, time deposit').

adjective
(adjective, banking) currentcheckingdemand (referring to accounts or deposits that can be withdrawn at any time)

Examples

  • 活期。
    Wǒ dǎ suàn kāi yí gè huó qī zhàng hù.
    I plan to open a checking account.
  • 活期。
    huó qī Cún kuǎn de lì lǜ bǐ dìng qī dī.
    The interest rate on demand deposits is lower than on fixed deposits.
  • 活期。
    Zhè ge huó qī zhàng hù kě yǐ suí shí qǔ qián.
    This current account allows you to withdraw money at any time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

活huóflexible
期qīperiod

Flexible and period combine to name a demand deposit.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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