限期 (xiàn qī) — (adverb) within a specified time; by the deadli… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

限期 as an adverb means 'within a set time / by a deadline' — modify the verb directly to set a time pressure (e.g. 限期完成). As a noun it means the deadline itself.

adverb

within a specified timeby the deadline

Examples

限期。
Nǐ bì xū xiàn qī wán chéng zuò yè.
You must finish the homework by the deadline.
限期，。
Zhè ge xiàng mù xiàn qī jiāo fù, bù néng tuō yán.
This project must be delivered within the time limit; no delays.
限期。
Qǐng xiàn qī huí fù zhè fēng xìn.
Please reply to this letter within the set time.

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

"限" and "期" combine setting a limit with a period.

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

⻖Written in full as阜fùmound

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

艮gèn限xiàn

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

限 pairs ⻖ (mound, written 阜) with 艮 as a sound part; the mound side gives the sense of a boundary or limit.

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

Time (Abstract)

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