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长期 (cháng qī) — (adjective) long-term, lasting; (noun) long period, long term (as a timeframe)

Definition

长期 focuses on a span of time that extends far into the future (long-term plans, long-term effects), and is usually an adjective. Compared with 长久, it stresses duration measured against a goal; 长久 is more general 'enduring'.

adjective
long-termlasting
noun
long periodlong term (as a timeframe)

Examples

  • 长期。
    Wǒ men xū yào yí gè cháng qī jì huà lái fā zhǎn gōng sī.
    We need a long-term plan to develop the company.
  • 长期。
    cháng qī Jiān chí zhì liáo duì kāng fù hěn yǒu bāng zhù.
    Long-term adherence to treatment is very helpful for recovery.
  • ，长期。
    Tā zài zhè jiā gōng sī gōng zuò le hěn duō nián, shì cháng qī yuán gōng.
    He has worked at this company for many years and is a long-term employee.

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.

长chánglong
期qīperiod

From 长 meaning long and 期 meaning period, giving a long period.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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
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