jìdù: 季度 - Quarter (of a year)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.