Meaning of 期间
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- period of time
- time
- time period
- period
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 期间
期间 usually follows a noun or phrase to mark when something happens, often in the pattern 在……期间. It sounds a bit more formal than 的时候. Example: 在春节期间，商店都关门了。(Zài Chūnjié qījiān, shāngdiàn dōu guānmén le.) During the Spring Festival, the shops were all closed.
期 (qī) is the 期 in 星期 (xīngqī, week) and 日期 (rìqī, date), so it points to a set stretch of time. 间 (jiān) is the 间 in 中间 (zhōngjiān, middle), so 期间 is the time in the middle of a set period.
Common mistake: Learners often use 期间 alone the way English uses "during", as in 期间我工作. It needs a time or event before it, as in 假期期间 or 会议期间. Also keep 期 in the first tone, qī, not qí.
期间 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
期 qī · a period of time · 12 strokes
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间 jiān · between · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 期间.
| 时间 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room |
| 星期 | xīngqī | week; day of the week |
| 中间 | zhōngjiān | the middle; the inside; in the middle; within; between; among |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
| 日期 | rìqī | date |
| 星期天 | xīngqītiān | Sunday |
| 星期日 | xīngqīrì | Sunday |
| 假期 | jiàqī | holiday period; vacation |
| 学期 | xuéqī | term; semester |
| 长期 | chángqī | long-term; for a protracted period |
| 卫生间 | wèishēngjiān | bathroom; toilet |
Questions about 期间
What does 期间 mean?
期间 (qījiān) means "period of time; time" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 期间?
期间 is made of 2 characters: 期 (12 strokes), 间 (7 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 期间 an HSK word?
Yes. 期间 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 期间 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 期间 is written 期間.
What is the difference between 期间 and 时间?
时间 (shíjiān) means time in general, or an amount of time, as in 我没有时间 (I have no time). 期间 refers to a specific period tied to an event, such as 考试期间 (during the exam period).
Can I use 期间 with a verb phrase?
Yes, it can follow a short verb phrase, for example 在中国学习期间 (while studying in China). It works best when the phrase describes a period with a clear beginning and end.