yúqī: 逾期 - Overdue, To Exceed a Deadline

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 逾期 (yúqī), which means “overdue” or “to exceed a deadline.” This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown for learners, explaining how to use a word critical for handling bills, library books, visa applications, and official contracts in China. With practical example sentences, cultural insights, and comparisons to similar terms, you'll master this formal and important HSK 5 vocabulary word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yúqī
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be overdue; to have exceeded a predetermined time limit.
• In a Nutshell: 逾期 (yúqī) is the formal and official term for when something has gone past its due date. It’s not just about being a little late; it implies that a rule or agreement has been broken, and there are often consequences. Think of the word you'd see on a notice for a late credit card payment, an unreturned library book, or an expired visa. It carries a serious, official tone.

• 逾 (yú): This character means “to exceed,” “to go beyond,” or “to pass.” It is composed of the radical 辶 (chuò), which means “to walk,” and the phonetic component 俞 (yú). You can visualize it as “walking beyond” a set boundary or limit.
• 期 (qī): This character means “a period of time,” “a date,” or “a deadline.” It contains the “moon” radical 月 (yuè), reflecting how time was historically measured by lunar cycles.

When combined, 逾期 (yúqī) literally translates to “exceeding the time period,” which perfectly captures its meaning of being past a deadline.

While Chinese culture can be flexible in social situations (for example, arrival times for a friendly dinner), it is extremely structured and rule-oriented in official and commercial matters. The concept of 逾期 (yúqī) reflects this structured side of society. In the West, “overdue” can have a similar meaning, but 逾期 (yúqī) is almost exclusively used in formal, contractual, or legal contexts. You would never say a friend is 逾期 for a meeting; you would use 迟到 (chídào). This distinction highlights a clear separation between personal relationships and official obligations. In modern China, with the rise of digital payments and social credit systems like 芝麻信用 (Zhīma Xìnyòng), an instance of 逾期 on a bill or loan can have immediate and significant consequences. It can be automatically recorded, lower your credit score, and potentially affect your ability to get future loans, rent apartments, or even buy high-speed train tickets. Therefore, avoiding 逾期 is a critical part of navigating daily life and maintaining a good public record.

逾期 (yúqī) is a formal term you will encounter more in writing and official communication than in casual conversation.

• Financial and Commercial Contexts: This is the most common usage. It refers to late payments for bills, loans, and rent. You will often see it paired with words for “fine” or “fee.”
  • e.g., 逾期罚款 (yúqī fákuǎn) - a late fee/fine
  • e.g., 信用卡账单逾期 (xìnyòngkǎ zhàngdān yúqī) - an overdue credit card bill
• Legal and Administrative Contexts: This applies to official documents and legal status.
  • e.g., 签证逾期 (qiānzhèng yúqī) - overstaying a visa (a very serious offense)
  • e.g., 合同逾期 (hétong yúqī) - the contract period has been exceeded
• Everyday Formalities: This includes things with official due dates.
  • e.g., 图书馆的书逾期了 (túshūguǎn de shū yúqī le) - the library book is overdue

The connotation is consistently negative, as it signifies a failure to meet an agreed-upon obligation.

• Example 1:
  • 你的借书卡上有一本书已经逾期了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de jièshūkǎ shàng yǒu yī běn shū yǐjīng yúqī le.
  • English: There is a book on your library card that is already overdue.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical use of the word. 逾期 functions as a verb here.
• Example 2:
  • 如果信用卡账单逾期未还，会影响你的信用记录。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ xìnyòngkǎ zhàngdān yúqī wèi huán, huì yǐngxiǎng nǐ de xìnyòng jìlù.
  • English: If the credit card bill is overdue and unpaid, it will affect your credit record.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the serious consequences associated with 逾期 in a modern financial context.
• Example 3:
  • 警告：水电费逾期三天将自动断电。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnggào: shuǐdiànfèi yúqī sān tiān jiāng zìdòng duàndiàn.
  • English: Warning: The power will be automatically cut off if the utility bill is three days overdue.
  • Analysis: This is typical language you would see on an official notice.
• Example 4:
  • 因为逾期付款，我被收了一笔滞纳金。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi yúqī fùkuǎn, wǒ bèi shōu le yī bǐ zhìnàjīn.
  • English: I was charged a late fee because of the overdue payment.
  • Analysis: Here, 逾期付款 (yúqī fùkuǎn) acts as a noun phrase meaning “overdue payment.”
• Example 5:
  • 外国人在中国签证逾期停留是严重的违法行为。
  • Pinyin: Wàiguó rén zài Zhōngguó qiānzhèng yúqī tíngliú shì yánzhòng de wéifǎ xíngwéi.
  • English: It is a serious illegal act for a foreigner to overstay their visa in China.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the legal severity of the term. 逾期停留 (yúqī tíngliú) means “overstay.”
• Example 6:
  • 请务必在截止日期前完成，以免项目逾期。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng wùbì zài jiézhǐ rìqī qián wánchéng, yǐmiǎn xiàngmù yúqī.
  • English: Please be sure to finish before the deadline to prevent the project from being overdue.
  • Analysis: Used in a business or project management context.
• Example 7:
  • 这笔逾期账款已经拖了三个月了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bǐ yúqī zhàngkuǎn yǐjīng tuō le sān ge yuè le.
  • English: This overdue account receivable has been delayed for three months.
  • Analysis: Here, 逾期 functions as an adjective modifying 账款 (zhàngkuǎn), “accounts/payment.”
• Example 8:
  • 如果货物逾期交付，买方有权要求赔偿。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ huòwù yúqī jiāofù, mǎifāng yǒuquán yāoqiú péicháng.
  • English: If the goods are delivered past the deadline, the buyer has the right to demand compensation.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in commercial contracts and logistics.
• Example 9:
  • 他因为粗心，忘记了还贷，导致贷款逾期。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi cūxīn, wàngjì le huándài, dǎozhì dàikuǎn yúqī.
  • English: Because he was careless, he forgot to make the repayment, which resulted in the loan being overdue.
  • Analysis: Shows a cause-and-effect relationship leading to an overdue status.
• Example 10:
  • 我的包裹逾期未到，我应该联系谁？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de bāoguǒ yúqī wèi dào, wǒ yīnggāi liánxì shéi?
  • English: My package is overdue (hasn't arrived), who should I contact?
  • Analysis: This shows how it can be used for expected arrivals that are late according to a schedule.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 逾期 (yúqī) with 迟到 (chídào).

• 逾期 (yúqī): For official deadlines, due dates, and expiration dates. It relates to a thing or an obligation being past its time limit.
  • Correct: 我的账单逾期了。(My bill is overdue.)
  • Correct: 我的签证逾期了。(My visa is expired/overstayed.)
• 迟到 (chídào): For people being late to an event, appointment, or location. It relates to personal tardiness.
  • Correct: 我今天上班迟到了。(I was late for work today.)
  • Incorrect: 我今天上班逾期了。 (This sounds very strange, as if your employment contract had a daily deadline you missed.)

Think of it this way: a person can 迟到 (chídào), but a payment or a library book is 逾期 (yúqī).

• 迟到 (chídào) - To be late, to arrive late. The term for personal tardiness, unlike the official nature of 逾期.
• 到期 (dàoqī) - To expire, to reach a due date. This is the moment before something becomes 逾期. Your phone contract might 到期 on the 31st; if you don't renew, it becomes 逾期 on the 1st.
• 过期 (guòqī) - To be expired. Very similar to 到期 but often used for things that become invalid or unusable, like food, medicine, or a passport.
• 期限 (qīxiàn) - A time limit, a deadline. This is the noun for the time period which you must not exceed.
• 截止日期 (jiézhǐ rìqī) - Cut-off date, deadline. A more formal and explicit word for 期限.
• 罚款 (fákuǎn) - A fine, a monetary penalty. A common consequence of being 逾期.
• 拖延 (tuōyán) - To procrastinate, to delay. This is the personal action that often leads to a state of 逾期.
• 按时 (ànshí) - On time, on schedule. The direct antonym of being late or 逾期. Performing an action 按时 prevents it from becoming 逾期.