时期

shíqī: 时期 - Period, Era, Phase

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: shiqi, shíqī, 时期, period of time in Chinese, era in Chinese, phase in Chinese, historical period, developmental stage, what is shiqi, shiqi vs shijian
  • Summary: “时期” (shíqī) is a fundamental Chinese noun used to define a specific period, era, or phase of time, characterized by a particular set of conditions or events. It's essential for discussing everything from historical eras like the Tang Dynasty to personal life stages like childhood or a project's “initial phase.” Understanding “时期” helps learners move beyond the general concept of “time” (时间, shíjiān) to describe defined durations with specific context and meaning.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): shíqī
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: A particular and distinct period of time.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of “时期” not as just “time,” but as a container for time. It's a block of time that has a label on it. For example, “childhood” is a “时期,” the “Renaissance” is a “时期,” and the “startup phase” of a company is a “时期.” It gives a name and a set of characteristics to a specific duration, making it a powerful word for adding structure and context to conversations about the past, present, or future.

Character Breakdown

  • 时 (shí): This character means “time” or “hour.” It's composed of 日 (rì), the sun, and 寸 (cùn), an ancient unit of measurement. Together, they evoke the idea of measuring the passage of time by the movement of the sun.
  • 期 (qī): This character means a “period of time,” “phase,” or a “scheduled date.” It contains the character 月 (yuè), meaning “moon,” which relates to cyclical periods like months.
  • When combined, 时期 (shíqī) literally means “time-period.” It takes the general concept of “time” (时) and places it into a defined, cyclical, or specific “phase” (期), creating the meaning of a distinct period with its own identity.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, history is often viewed as a series of well-defined periods, each with its own name, characteristics, and lessons. The use of “时期” is central to this structured view of the past. Dynasties are not just lengths of time; they are distinct “时期” (e.g., 唐朝时期, Tángcháo shíqī - the Tang Dynasty Period). This extends to modern history, with concepts like the “改革开放时期” (gǎigé kāifàng shíqī - the Reform and Opening-Up Period) being a common and specific frame of reference for everyone.
  • Comparison to Western Concepts: While “period” is a close English equivalent, “时期” is used more systematically in everyday language to frame both historical and personal events. An American might say, “back when I was a kid,” which is informal. A Chinese speaker would very naturally and slightly more formally say “在我童年时期” (zài wǒ tóngnián shíqī - during my childhood period). This reflects a cultural tendency to categorize and label segments of time, imbuing them with a sense of official or recognized status, whether for a nation's history or an individual's life.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • “时期” is a versatile and common noun used across various contexts, from formal academic writing to everyday conversation.
  • Historical Context: This is its most frequent use. It's almost always attached to a dynasty, event, or historical description. (e.g., 春秋战国时期 - Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period).
  • Personal Development: Used to describe stages of life. (e.g., 青春期 - qingchūnqī - adolescence/puberty period, 婴儿期 - yīng'érqī - infancy period).
  • Projects & Processes: Used to define phases of a plan or process. It's often combined with words like “initial,” “middle,” and “late.” (e.g., 项目的初期 - xiàngmù de chūqī - the initial period of the project).
  • Social & Economic Contexts: Used to describe a time characterized by a specific social or economic state. (e.g., 经济困难时期 - jīngjì kùnnán shíqī - period of economic difficulty).
  • Formality: Generally neutral to slightly formal. It's more formal than just saying “that time” but is perfectly acceptable in daily speech.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 中国历史上的唐朝时期是一个文化非常繁荣的时期。
    • Pinyin: Zhōngguó lìshǐ shàng de Tángcháo shíqī shì yīgè wénhuà fēicháng fánróng de shíqī.
    • English: The Tang Dynasty period in Chinese history was a period of great cultural prosperity.
    • Analysis: A classic example of using “时期” to refer to a specific historical dynasty. Notice its repeated use for emphasis and clarity.
  • Example 2:
    • 在我的童年时期，我最喜欢去公园玩。
    • Pinyin: Zài wǒ de tóngnián shíqī, wǒ zuì xǐhuān qù gōngyuán wán.
    • English: During my childhood period, I loved going to the park to play.
    • Analysis: This shows how “时期” is used for personal life stages, giving the time a specific label (“childhood period”).
  • Example 3:
    • 公司目前正处于一个快速发展的时期。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī mùqián zhèng chǔyú yīgè kuàisù fāzhǎn de shíqī.
    • English: The company is currently in a period of rapid development.
    • Analysis: Here, “时期” describes the current state or phase of a business. “处于…时期” (chǔyú…shíqī) is a common pattern meaning “to be in a…period.”
  • Example 4:
    • 这是一个非常特殊的历史时期。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè fēicháng tèshū de lìshǐ shíqī.
    • English: This is a very special historical period.
    • Analysis: A simple, common phrase. The adjective “特殊” (tèshū - special) modifies “时期” to describe its unique character.
  • Example 5:
    • 在备考时期，他每天都学习到深夜。
    • Pinyin: Zài bèikǎo shíqī, tā měitiān dōu xuéxí dào shēnyè.
    • English: During the exam preparation period, he studied late into the night every day.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates that “时期” can also refer to shorter, temporary periods defined by a specific activity (like preparing for a test).
  • Example 6:
    • 那段时期，我们的生活很困难。
    • Pinyin: Nà duàn shíqī, wǒmen de shēnghuó hěn kùnnán.
    • English: During that period, our lives were very difficult.
    • Analysis: “段” (duàn) is a measure word often used with “时期” to mean “a stretch/segment of” a period.
  • Example 7:
    • 这个病毒的潜伏时期大约是两周。
    • Pinyin: Zhège bìngdú de qiánfú shíqī dàyuē shì liǎng zhōu.
    • English: The incubation period of this virus is about two weeks.
    • Analysis: Shows the technical and scientific application of “时期” to mean a specific, measurable phase. Here, “潜伏期” (qiánfúqī) is a fixed term.
  • Example 8:
    • 国家正经历一个重要的过渡时期。
    • Pinyin: Guójiā zhèng jīnglì yīgè zhòngyào de guòdù shíqī.
    • English: The country is undergoing an important transition period.
    • Analysis: “过渡时期” (guòdù shíqī) is a common collocation meaning “transition period,” used in political, economic, or social contexts.
  • Example 9:
    • 在这个项目的初期时期，我们遇到了很多挑战。
    • Pinyin: Zài zhège xiàngmù de chūqī shíqī, wǒmen yù dàole hěnduō tiǎozhàn.
    • English: In the initial period of this project, we encountered many challenges.
    • Analysis: “初期” (chūqī - initial period) is often used with “时期” to specify the beginning phase of something. You could also use “中期” (zhōngqī - middle) or “后期” (hòuqī - late).
  • Example 10:
    • 每个时期都有其独特的艺术风格。
    • Pinyin: Měi gè shíqī dōu yǒu qí dútè de yìshù fēnggé.
    • English: Every period has its own unique artistic style.
    • Analysis: This sentence generalizes the concept, highlighting that “时期” is a way to categorize and differentiate segments of time.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 时期 (shíqī) vs. 时间 (shíjiān): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
    • 时间 (shíjiān): Refers to “time” as a general, abstract, or unspecific concept. It's the “stuff” that passes. Use it when asking “What time is it?” (现在几点时间？ - Xianzai jidian? Note: here 点 is more common, but 时间 works for the concept) or saying “I have no time” (我没有时间).
    • 时期 (shíqī): Refers to a *specific, named, and defined block of time*. It's a “period.”
    • INCORRECT: 我没有时期去购物。(Wǒ méiyǒu shíqī qù gòuwù.) This means “I don't have a historical period to go shopping,” which is nonsensical.
    • CORRECT: 我没有时间去购物。(Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān qù gòuwù.) - I don't have time to go shopping.
    • CORRECT: 在战争时期，购物很困难。(Zài zhànzhēng shíqī, gòuwù hěn kùnnán.) - During the war period, shopping was difficult.
  • 时期 (shíqī) vs. 时代 (shídài):
    • 时期 (shíqī): A “period.” More flexible, can be long (a dynasty) or short (an exam period). It is a neutral-to-formal way of segmenting time.
    • 时代 (shídài): An “era” or an “age.” This implies a much longer, more significant, and transformative span of time that defines generations. It carries more historical weight.
    • Example: The “Information Age” is the 信息时代 (xìnxī shídài). Within this “age,” there might be many different political or economic “periods” (时期). The “Roaring Twenties” would be a “时期,” but the “Industrial Age” would be a “时代.”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 时代 (shídài) - An era or age; a longer and more profound span of time than “时期”.
  • 阶段 (jiēduàn) - A stage or phase, typically within a process or development. Often more granular than “时期”. (e.g., The first stage of the plan).
  • 期间 (qījiān) - During a period; emphasizes the duration *within* a specified time. Often used like: 在…期间 (zài…qījiān - during the period of…).
  • 时间 (shíjiān) - The general concept of time. The opposite of “时期” in terms of specificity.
  • 年代 (niándài) - A decade (e.g., 90年代 - the 90s), or a more general “era” associated with a block of years.
  • 初期 (chūqī) - The initial period / early stage. A specific type of “时期”.
  • 后期 (hòuqī) - The later period / late stage. A specific type of “时期”.
  • 过渡时期 (guòdù shíqī) - A specific compound word meaning “transitional period”.