yuèdǐ: 月底 - End of the Month

• Keywords: yuedi, 月底, end of month Chinese, end of the month, Chinese time words, paying bills in China, payday China, 月初, 月中, 年底, HSK 3
• Summary: Learn how to use “月底” (yuèdǐ), the essential Chinese term for “end of the month.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural importance related to payday and deadlines, and provides practical examples. Master “月底” to talk about schedules, finances, and plans like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yuèdǐ
• Part of Speech: Time Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The last few days or the last week of a month.
• In a Nutshell: “月底” doesn't refer to the single last day of the month, but rather the general period at the end of it. Think of it as the final stretch, typically from around the 25th onwards. It's a high-frequency word deeply tied to the monthly cycles of life in China: paying bills, receiving salaries, and meeting deadlines.

• 月 (yuè): This character is a pictograph of the moon. Because the moon's cycle is roughly a month long, it means both “moon” and “month.”
• 底 (dǐ): This character means “bottom,” “base,” or “end.” Think of the bottom of a cup or the end of a line.
• When combined, 月 (month) + 底 (end) literally and logically means “the month's end.”

The rhythm of “月底” is a fundamental part of modern life in China. Unlike some Western countries where bi-weekly pay cycles are common, the vast majority of salaries, bills, and rent payments in China operate on a monthly schedule. This creates a shared cultural experience and feeling around this time period. For many, “月底” is a time of anticipation and financial pressure. It's when rent is due and budgets are tight while waiting for the next paycheck. This has given rise to the popular slang term 月光族 (yuèguāng zú), or the “moonlight clan.” This clever pun plays on 月光 (yuèguāng), which means “moonlight,” but also can be read as “month empty” (月-month, 光-empty/used up). A “月光族” is someone who has spent their entire salary by the end of the month, living paycheck to paycheck. Asking a friend if they have money to spare near the “月底” might be met with a wry smile and a complaint about being “月光族”. This monthly cycle of scarcity (“月底”) followed by temporary abundance (“月初”, a new month's salary) is a common topic of conversation and jokes, reflecting the economic realities for many urban young people.

“月底” is used constantly in everyday conversation, business, and planning.

• Finances and Bills: This is the most common context. You'll hear it used for rent, utility bills, credit card payments, and salary distribution.
• Work and Deadlines: In the office, “月底” is often the deadline for monthly reports, sales quotas, and project milestones. It can be a period of intense work.
• Social Planning: People often use “月底” as a general timeframe to schedule events, like “Let's have dinner at the end of the month.” It's less precise than naming a specific date and is perfect for casual planning.

The term is neutral in connotation and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

• Example 1:
  • 我月底才发工资，现在没钱了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yuèdǐ cái fā gōngzī, xiànzài méi qián le.
  • English: I don't get paid until the end of the month, so I'm broke right now.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example linking “月底” to salary (工资) and the common feeling of being out of money while waiting for payday.
• Example 2:
  • 你别忘了，我们月底要交房租。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié wàng le, wǒmen yuèdǐ yào jiāo fángzū.
  • English: Don't forget, we have to pay the rent at the end of the month.
  • Analysis: Shows the practical use of “月底” for recurring financial obligations like rent (房租).
• Example 3:
  • 这个月的报告必须在月底前完成。
  • Pinyin: Zhège yuè de bàogào bìxū zài yuèdǐ qián wánchéng.
  • English: This month's report must be finished before the end of the month.
  • Analysis: A typical work-related sentence. The structure “在…前” (zài…qián) means “before…” and is often paired with time words like “月底”.
• Example 4:
  • 我们计划六月底去旅行。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jìhuà liù yuèdǐ qù lǚxíng.
  • English: We plan to go traveling at the end of June.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to specify a particular month by placing the month (“六月” - June) before “月底”.
• Example 5:
  • 快到月底了，我的手机流量快用完了。
  • Pinyin: Kuài dào yuèdǐ le, wǒ de shǒujī liúliàng kuài yòng wán le.
  • English: It's almost the end of the month, and my phone's data is almost used up.
  • Analysis: “快到…了” (kuài dào…le) means “it's almost…” and is a very common way to express that the end of the month is approaching.
• Example 6:
  • 这家商店通常在月底有促销活动。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn tōngcháng zài yuèdǐ yǒu cùxiāo huódòng.
  • English: This store usually has promotional activities at the end of the month.
  • Analysis: Businesses often time sales events for the end of the month to capture customers who are about to be paid.
• Example 7:
  • 你觉得我们这个项目月底能做完吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde wǒmen zhège xiàngmù yuèdǐ néng zuò wán ma?
  • English: Do you think we can finish this project by the end of the month?
  • Analysis: A common question in a professional setting, using “月底” as a deadline benchmark.
• Example 8:
  • 他打算等到月底再做决定。
  • Pinyin: Tā dǎsuàn děng dào yuèdǐ zài zuò juédìng.
  • English: He plans to wait until the end of the month to make a decision.
  • Analysis: Shows “月底” as a future time marker for decision-making. “等到” (děng dào) means “wait until”.
• Example 9:
  • 从月初到月底，他一直都很忙。
  • Pinyin: Cóng yuèchū dào yuèdǐ, tā yīzhí dōu hěn máng.
  • English: From the beginning of the month to the end of the month, he has been very busy the whole time.
  • Analysis: This example contrasts “月初” (beginning of the month) with “月底” to describe a duration spanning the entire month.
• Example 10:
  • 公司规定，所有报销都必须在月底提交。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī guīdìng, suǒyǒu bàoxiāo dōu bìxū zài yuèdǐ tíjiāo.
  • English: The company policy states that all expense reimbursements must be submitted by the end of the month.
  • Analysis: A formal, business context for using “月底” as an official deadline for processes like reimbursements (报销).

• A Period, Not a Day: The most common mistake for learners is to think “月底” means the 30th or 31st. It doesn't. It refers to a *range* of days. If you want to specify the very last day of the month, you must say 这个月的最后一天 (zhège yuè de zuìhòu yì tiān).
  • Incorrect: 我3月月底要离开。(I will leave on March 31st.) - This is ambiguous.
  • Correct: 我3月的最后一天要离开。(I will leave on the last day of March.)
  • Correct: 我3月底要离开。(I will leave sometime near the end of March.)
• Vagueness is Intentional: The ambiguity of “月底” is a feature. It's used when a precise date isn't necessary or known yet. If someone tells you they'll pay you back “月底”, they mean “sometime in the last week of the month.” If you need a specific date, you should ask for one: “具体是哪一天？” (Jùtǐ shì nǎ yì tiān? - “Which day specifically?”).

• 月初 (yuèchū) - The beginning of the month (the first 10 days or so). The direct antonym of “月底”.
• 月中 (yuèzhōng) - The middle of the month (roughly from the 11th to the 20th).
• 年底 (niándǐ) - End of the year. It functions exactly like “月底” but on an annual scale (e.g., late November through December).
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. The “end of the week,” following the same “end” (末) logic.
• 截止日期 (jiézhǐ rìqī) - Deadline / Cut-off date. A more formal and specific term for a deadline than “月底”.
• 月光族 (yuèguāng zú) - The “moonlight clan”; people who spend their salary before the end of the month. A key cultural concept related to “月底”.
• 发工资 (fā gōngzī) - To get paid / receive salary. The event everyone is waiting for at “月底”.
• 上旬 (shàngxún) - The first ten-day period of a month. A more formal synonym for “月初”.
• 中旬 (zhōngxún) - The middle ten-day period of a month. A more formal synonym for “月中”.
• 下旬 (xiàxún) - The last ten-day period of a month. A more formal synonym for “月底”.