Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== jìdù: 季度 - Quarter (of a year) ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 季度, jidu, Chinese quarter, financial quarter, business quarter, quarterly report, Chinese business terms, time periods in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary * **Summary:** The Chinese word **季度 (jìdù)** translates directly to "quarter" or "quarterly period." It refers to a three-month division of the year, primarily used in business, finance, and administrative contexts. Understanding 季度 is essential for discussing company performance, financial reports (季度报告), and strategic planning in a professional Chinese-speaking environment. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jìdù * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** A period of three months; a quarter of a year. * **In a Nutshell:** 季度 is the standard, formal term for one of the four three-month periods that make up a year (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). While the character `季` alone can mean "season," the full word `季度` strips away any connection to weather or nature and refers specifically to a fixed, administrative block of time. It's a key vocabulary word for anyone working or doing business in China. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **季 (jì):** This character's original meaning was related to "young" or "the end of a sequence." This evolved to mean the last month of a natural season, and eventually, the "season" itself (a three-month period). Think of it as a block of three months. * **度 (dù):** This character means "degree," "measure," or "period of time." It adds a sense of a measured, defined interval. * When combined, **季度 (jìdù)** literally means a "measured season" or "seasonal period," perfectly capturing the idea of a formal, defined three-month block of time. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * The concept of the `季度` is a modern one in China, directly tied to its integration into the global economy. While traditional Chinese culture operates on a lunar calendar and is deeply connected to the natural seasons (`季节`, jìjié) for agriculture and festivals, the `季度` system (Q1, Q2, etc.) is an adopted standard from international business practice. * **Comparison with Western Culture:** The use of `季度` in a business context is almost identical to the English "quarter." Both are used for financial reporting, setting goals (KPIs), and project planning. The key difference for a learner lies in the linguistic connection to the word for "season." In English, "quarter" and "season" are completely unrelated words. In Chinese, `季度` (quarter) is built upon the character `季` (season). This can be a point of confusion. A `季度` is a fixed calendar block (e.g., Q1 is Jan 1 - Mar 31), whereas a `季节` (season) is defined by climate and astronomy (e.g., spring starts in late March). The modern Chinese business world runs on the former, not the latter. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Business and Finance:** This is the most common context. Companies issue `季度报告` (jìdù bàogào, quarterly reports), managers set `季度目标` (jìdù mùbiāo, quarterly goals), and employees might receive a `季度奖金` (jìdù jiǎngjīn, quarterly bonus). It's the standard unit for measuring short-to-medium term business performance. * **Government and Economics:** Government agencies release economic data, such as GDP growth, on a quarterly basis. You'll often hear news reports discussing `第一季度` (dì yī jìdù, first quarter) economic statistics. * **Planning and Scheduling:** In project management, tasks and deadlines are often organized by `季度`. * **Formality:** `季度` is a neutral to formal term. It belongs in the office, in reports, and in the news. You would not use it in a casual conversation about your personal life. For instance, you wouldn't say "I'm going to visit my parents next `季度`." You would say `下个月` (xià ge yuè, next month) or `夏天` (xiàtiān, summer). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们公司每个**季度**都会发布一份财务报告。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī měi ge **jìdù** dōu huì fābù yī fèn cáiwù bàogào. * English: Our company releases a financial report every quarter. * Analysis: This is a classic business usage, showing the regular, cyclical nature of quarterly reporting. * **Example 2:** * 今年第三**季度**的销售额超出了我们的预期。 * Pinyin: Jīnnián dì sān **jìdù** de xiāoshòu'é chāochūle wǒmen de yùqī. * English: This year's third-quarter sales exceeded our expectations. * Analysis: Here, `季度` is specified with `第三` (dì sān, the third), a common pattern (第一, 第二, 第三, 第四季度). * **Example 3:** * 你必须在这个**季度**结束前完成这个项目。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū zài zhè ge **jìdù** jiéshù qián wánchéng zhè ge xiàngmù. * English: You must complete this project before the end of this quarter. * Analysis: This sentence highlights its use in setting deadlines in a professional context. * **Example 4:** * 管理层正在为下个**季度**制定新的战略。 * Pinyin: Guǎnlǐcéng zhèngzài wèi xià ge **jìdù** zhìdìng xīn de zhànlüè. * English: The management is formulating a new strategy for the next quarter. * Analysis: `下个季度` (next quarter) is a very common phrase in business planning. * **Example 5:** * 每个**季度**的第一个月，我们会开一次全体员工大会。 * Pinyin: Měi ge **jìdù** de dì yī ge yuè, wǒmen huì kāi yī cì quántǐ yuángōng dàhuì. * English: In the first month of every quarter, we hold an all-staff meeting. * Analysis: This example clearly defines a recurring event based on the quarterly cycle. * **Example 6:** * 公司的利润已经连续两个**季度**下滑了。 * Pinyin: Gōngsī de lìrùn yǐjīng liánxù liǎng ge **jìdù** xiàhuále. * English: The company's profits have been declining for two consecutive quarters. * Analysis: Shows how `季度` is used to measure trends over time, using `连续` (liánxù, consecutive). * **Example 7:** * 这个**季度**的员工奖金将根据个人表现来决定。 * Pinyin: Zhè ge **jìdù** de yuángōng jiǎngjīn jiāng gēnjù gèrén biǎoxiàn lái juédìng. * English: This quarter's employee bonuses will be determined by individual performance. * Analysis: A practical example directly relating to an employee's work and compensation. * **Example 8:** * 第一**季度**包括一月、二月和三月。 * Pinyin: Dì yī **jìdù** bāokuò yī yuè, èr yuè hé sān yuè. * English: The first quarter includes January, February, and March. * Analysis: A very direct sentence that could be used to clarify the meaning of `季度` itself. * **Example 9:** * 我们的新产品预计在第四**季度**上市。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de xīn chǎnpǐn yùjì zài dì sì **jìdù** shàngshì. * English: Our new product is expected to launch in the fourth quarter. * Analysis: Demonstrates the use of `季度` in product roadmaps and marketing plans. * **Example 10:** * 这本杂志是按**季度**出版的。 * Pinyin: Zhè běn zázhì shì àn **jìdù** chūbǎn de. * English: This magazine is published quarterly. * Analysis: `按季度` (àn jìdù) means "on a quarterly basis" or "quarterly," a useful adverbial phrase. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`季度` (jìdù) vs. `季节` (jìjié):** This is the most important distinction. Do not use them interchangeably. * **`季度` (jìdù)** is an administrative, fixed three-month period (Q1, Q2, etc.). It's about business and time, not weather. * **`季节` (jìjié)** is a natural season (spring, summer, autumn, winter). It's about weather, nature, and feelings. * **Incorrect:** `我最喜欢的**季度**是秋天。` (My favorite quarter is autumn.) -> This is wrong. It mixes a business term with a natural season. * **Correct:** `我最喜欢的**季节**是秋天。` (My favorite season is autumn.) * **Correct:** `公司在第三**季度**的业绩很好。` (The company's performance in the third quarter was very good.) * **`季度` (jìdù) vs. `三个月` (sān ge yuè):** * Use `季度` when you are referring to a specific, official quarter (Q1, Q2, etc.) within a year. It implies a formal system. * Use `三个月` (sān ge yuè, "three months") for any general duration of three months that isn't tied to a specific quarter. * **Example:** "The project will take three months." -> `这个项目需要**三个月**。` (Using `季度` here would sound strange). * **Example:** "The report for Q2 is due." -> `第二**季度**的报告该交了。` (Using `三个月` would be unclear which three months you mean). ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[季节]] (jìjié) - Natural season (spring, summer, etc.). The conceptual root, but different in practical usage. * [[年度]] (niándù) - Annual period; year. The next level up from `季度`. * [[月度]] (yuèdù) - Monthly period. A more granular, formal time division. * [[季度报告]] (jìdù bàogào) - Quarterly report. A very common collocation. * [[财报]] (cáibào) - Financial report, which is often released on a quarterly basis. * [[上半年]] (shàngbànnián) - The first half of the year (H1). * [[下半年]] (xiàbànnián) - The second half of the year (H2). * [[指标]] (zhǐbiāo) - Target, key performance indicator (KPI). Often set and reviewed on a quarterly basis. * [[同比]] (tóngbǐ) - Year-on-year (YoY). Used in quarterly reports to compare Q2 this year to Q2 last year. * [[环比]] (huánbǐ) - Quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) or month-on-month. Used to compare Q2 to Q1 of the same year.