Keywords: 日程, rìchéng, Chinese for schedule, Chinese for itinerary, agenda in Chinese, daily schedule Chinese, rìchéng meaning, business schedule, travel itinerary, 日程 vs 行程, 日程 vs 安排, HSK 4 vocabulary.
Summary: 日程 (rìchéng) is the essential Chinese word for a formal schedule, itinerary, or agenda. Used widely in business, travel, and official contexts, it refers to a pre-planned sequence of events for a day or a specific period. Understanding 日程 is key to navigating organized activities in China, from attending a conference to joining a tour group, as it signifies a structured and respected plan.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): rìchéng
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: 4
Concise Definition: A schedule or itinerary listing a sequence of activities for a specific period.
In a Nutshell: Think of 日程 (rìchéng) as the official, written-down plan. It's not just a casual to-do list; it's the structured sequence of events for a conference, a business trip, a guided tour, or a VIP's day. The word implies organization, formality, and a plan that is meant to be followed by one or more people.
Character Breakdown
日 (rì): This character means “day” or “sun.” It's one of the most fundamental characters, originating from a pictogram of the sun. Here, it establishes the time frame: daily or pertaining to a specific day.
程 (chéng): This character means “process,” “sequence,” or “journey.” It's composed of 禾 (hé), meaning “grain,” and a phonetic component originally related to measurement. The combination suggests a measured, step-by-step process, like the stages of growing grain.
Together, 日程 (rìchéng) literally translates to a “day's process” or “daily sequence.” This beautifully captures the modern meaning of a planned series of events laid out over a period of time.
Cultural Context and Significance
日程 (rìchéng) reflects a cultural appreciation for structure, planning, and efficiency, particularly in collective and professional settings. In China, presenting a clear 日程 is a sign of professionalism and respect for others' time. It ensures that everyone in a group (a business team, a tour group) is synchronized and understands the plan.
Comparison to “Schedule” in the West: While “schedule” in English can be very personal and flexible (e.g., “My schedule is open this afternoon”), 日程 (rìchéng) is rarely used for such spontaneous, individual planning. A 日程 is typically more concrete, often shared, and implies a series of commitments. Asking a friend “What's your 日程 for today?” would sound overly formal. Instead, you'd ask what their `安排 (ānpái)` or `计划 (jìhuà)` is. The formality of 日程 helps manage expectations and coordinate groups effectively, a value deeply rooted in a collectivist-oriented culture where group harmony and smooth execution are highly prized.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Business Context: This is the most common usage. A 会议日程 (huìyì rìchéng) is a “meeting agenda.” A project manager will lay out the 项目日程 (xiàngmù rìchéng) or “project schedule.” Asking a colleague about a manager's availability involves checking their 日程.
Travel and Tourism: It is the standard word for a “travel itinerary.” A tour agency will provide you with a detailed 旅游日程 (lǚyóu rìchéng).
Official and Formal Settings: The daily schedule of a politician, diplomat, or CEO is their 日程. News reports might mention a leader's 访问日程 (fǎngwèn rìchéng) or “visit schedule.”
Describing Busyness: A very common phrase is 日程很满 (rìchéng hěn mǎn), meaning “(my/your/their) schedule is packed/full.” This is a standard way to express being busy with formal commitments.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
今天的日程是什么？
Pinyin: Jīntiān de rìchéng shì shénme?
English: What is the schedule for today?
Analysis: A simple, direct question used to ask for the day's plan in a formal or group context, like at the start of a workday or a tour.
Example 2:
导游把这周的日程发给我们了。
Pinyin: Dǎoyóu bǎ zhè zhōu de rìchéng fā gěi wǒmen le.
English: The tour guide sent us this week's itinerary.
Analysis: This shows 日程 used specifically as a travel itinerary. The verb `发 (fā)` means “to send.”
Example 3:
对不起，我明天的日程很满。
Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ míngtiān de rìchéng hěn mǎn.
English: Sorry, my schedule for tomorrow is very full.
Analysis: The classic phrase `日程很满 (rìchéng hěn mǎn)` is a polite and common way to decline an invitation due to prior commitments.
Example 4:
我们需要为这次会议安排一个详细的日程。
Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào wèi zhè cì huìyì ānpái yí ge xiángxì de rìchéng.
English: We need to arrange a detailed agenda for this meeting.
Analysis: This sentence shows the common collocation `安排日程 (ānpái rìchéng)`, which means “to arrange a schedule.”
Example 5:
参观博物馆不在今天的日程上。
Pinyin: Cānguān bówùguǎn bú zài jīntiān de rìchéng shàng.
English: Visiting the museum is not on today's schedule.
Analysis: The structure `在 (zài)…上 (shàng)` is used to mean “on the…”. This is a standard way to talk about what is or isn't included in a plan.
Example 6:
总统的访问日程是高度机密。
Pinyin: Zǒngtǒng de fǎngwèn rìchéng shì gāodù jīmì.
English: The president's visit schedule is top secret.
Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 日程 in a very formal, official context.
English: According to the schedule, we should have a meeting at three o'clock.
Analysis: `按照 (ànzhào)` means “according to” and is frequently used with 日程 to refer back to the established plan.
Example 10:
他把所有约会都写进了他的电子日程里。
Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu yuēhuì dōu xiě jìn le tā de diànzǐ rìchéng lǐ.
English: He wrote all of his appointments into his electronic schedule.
Analysis: Shows a modern application, `电子日程 (diànzǐ rìchéng)`, referring to a digital calendar or planner (like Google Calendar).
Nuances and Common Mistakes
日程 (rìchéng) vs. 安排 (ānpái): This is the most common point of confusion.
日程 is the *noun* for the finalized, structured plan (the list, the itinerary).
安排 (ānpái) is more versatile. It can be a *verb* (“to arrange”) or a *noun* (“arrangements/plans”). 安排 is used for both formal and informal planning.
Mistake: Saying “我今天的日程是跟朋友吃饭” (My schedule today is to eat with a friend).
Correction: It sounds too formal and stiff. Better to say “我今天的安排是跟朋友吃饭” (My plan/arrangement for today is to eat with a friend). Use 日程 for a series of official events, not a single casual one.
日程 (rìchéng) vs. 行程 (xíngchéng):
行程 (xíngchéng) specifically means “itinerary” or the route of a journey. The character `行 (xíng)` means to walk or travel.
All 行程 are a type of 日程, but not all 日程 are 行程. A meeting agenda is a 日程, but not a 行程. A travel plan could be called either, but 行程 emphasizes the travel aspect.
日程 (rìchéng) vs. 时间表 (shíjiānbiǎo):
时间表 (shíjiānbiǎo) is a “timetable.” Think of a school class schedule, a bus timetable, or a train timetable. It's often in a table format and usually repetitive.
日程 is for a specific, often unique sequence of events, like for a particular trip or conference.
Related Terms and Concepts
安排 (ānpái) - Can be a verb (“to arrange”) or a noun (“plans/arrangements”). More flexible and widely used than 日程.
行程 (xíngchéng) - An itinerary; the route of a journey. A specific type of 日程 that involves travel.
计划 (jìhuà) - A plan, project, or scheme. Generally broader and more long-term than a 日程.
时间表 (shíjiānbiǎo) - A timetable (for classes, trains, etc.). Used for recurring, structured time-based information.
议程 (yìchéng) - An agenda, specifically for a meeting or conference discussion.
待办事项 (dàibàn shìxiàng) - A to-do list. More personal and task-focused.
预约 (yùyuē) - An appointment or reservation. A single event that would be placed *on* a 日程.
满 (mǎn) - Full, packed. Often used to describe a busy schedule, as in `日程很满`.
取消 (qǔxiāo) - To cancel. An action one might take on an event within a 日程.
推迟 (tuīchí) - To postpone or delay. Another common action related to managing a 日程.