时 shí — o'clock; time; when; hour; season; period
上课的时候要认真听讲。Shàng kè de shí hou yào rèn zhēn tīng jiǎng.Pay attention during class.
Common words: 时候 (shí hou)、时间 (shí jiān)、小时 (xiǎo shí)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "period"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "period", including 时 (shí), 纪 (jì), 季 (jì), 届 (jiè). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "period" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 时 (shí), 纪 (jì), 季 (jì), 届 (jiè) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shí, jì, jiè — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 时 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 时 shío'clock; time; when; hour; season; periodUseful words: 时候, 时间
- 纪 jìdiscipline; age; era; period; order; recordUseful words: 世纪, 纪念
- 季 jìseason; periodUseful words: 季节, 四季
- 届 jièarrive at (place or time); period; to become due; measure words for events (e.g.; meetings; elections)Useful words: 届时, 历届
Common words for these 4 "period" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 时 (shí) — so "period" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
时候shí houtime; length of time; moment; period时间shí jiān(concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) time小时xiǎo shíhour世纪shì jìcentury纪念jì niànto commemorate; to honor the memory of; memento; keepsake年纪nián jìage季节jì jiétime; season; period四季sì jìfour seasons, namely: spring 春, summer 夏, autumn 秋 and winter 冬季度jì dùquarter of a year; season (sports)届时jiè shíwhen the time comes; at the scheduled time
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "period".
纪 jì — discipline; age; era; period; order; record
这座建筑有几个世纪的历史。Zhè zuò jiàn zhù yǒu jǐ ge shì jì de lì shǐ.This building has a history of several centuries.
Common words: 世纪 (shì jì)、纪念 (jì niàn)、年纪 (nián jì)
季 jì — season; period
一年有四个季节，我最喜欢春季。Yì nián yǒu sì ge jì jié, wǒ zuì xǐ huan chūn jì.There are four seasons in a year, and I like spring the most.
Common words: 季节 (jì jié)、四季 (sì jì)、季度 (jì dù)
届 jiè — arrive at (place or time); period; to become due; measure words for events (e.g.; meetings; elections)
这一届运动会办得十分成功。Zhè yí jiè yùn dòng huì bàn de shí fēn chéng gōng.This sports meet was a great success.
Common words: 届时 (jiè shí)、历届 (lì jiè)、下届 (xià jiè)
All 4 characters
Open 时、纪、季 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.