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周期 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
周期zhōuqīperiodHSK 6, t, rank #12172, Hard
周期zhōuqīcycleHSK 6, t, rank #12172, Hard
zhōuqī(zhou1qi1) T1
  1. 1period
  2. 2cycle
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March 24, 2026
周期(週期)zhōuqī(zhou1qi1)

周期 (zhōuqī) refers to a recurring sequence of events or phenomena, often measured in time. It is commonly used in contexts such as physics, economics, and biology to describe phenomena that repeat over a set period, like seasons or economic cycles.

Frequency#12172DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 周期 is tied to traditional beliefs in cycles of nature, such as the lunar calendar, which reflects the importance of cyclical patterns in agriculture and festivals.

Memory Tip

Think of 周 (zhōu) as a 'circle' and 期 (qī) as a 'time period.' Imagine the hands of a clock moving in a cycle, representing time repeating itself, helping you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.

Meanings of 周期

zhōuqī(zhou1qi1)
1period
2cycle
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 周期

周期Simplified
週期Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#12172Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 周期

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Podcast: 周期

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AI Study Notes for 周期

Quick Contrast

周期 (zhōuqī) vs 频率 (pínlǜ): use 周期 for the duration of a repeating event, while 频率 refers to how often the events occur within that time.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 周 (zhōu) as a 'circle' and 期 (qī) as a 'time period.' Imagine the hands of a clock moving in a cycle, representing time repeating itself, helping you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 周期 solely in formal contexts; it can also fit informal discussions about routine events. Common collocations include '经济周期' (economic cycle) and '生物周期' (biological cycle). Remember to maintain the correct tones when pronouncing the word to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 周期 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to time and processes. Focus on understanding its usage in scientific texts and discussions to enhance comprehension and application in various contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 周期 is tied to traditional beliefs in cycles of nature, such as the lunar calendar, which reflects the importance of cyclical patterns in agriculture and festivals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 周期 with 期间 (qījiān), which refers to a time period without the cyclical aspect. For example, saying '经济期间' instead of '经济周期' demonstrates this mix-up.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 周期

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Component Characters

周zhōuweek
HSK 28 strokes口
View full entry
期qīperiod
HSK 412 strokes月
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Write 周期

周
期

Practice writing 周期 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 周期

周期 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他们力求把开发____缩至18个月以下。

They aim to cut production lead times to under 18 months.

Example Sentences for 周期 (7)

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1
他们力求把开发周期缩至18个月以下。

tā mén lì qiú bǎ kāi fā zhōu qī suō zhì18 18 gè yuè yǐ。

They aim to cut production lead times to under 18 months.
2
每种新产品都将会有相对较长的生命周期。

měi zhǒng xīn chǎn pǐn dū jiāng huì yǒu xiāng duì jiào cháng de shēng mìng zhōu qī。

Each new product would have a relatively long life cycle.
3
在每个基准周期中随时归零的脉冲.

zài měi gè jī zhǔn zhōu qī zhōng suí shí guī líng de mài chōng.

A pulse that ends any time during a reference cycle.
4
很久以前, 我们就知道行星的周期运动.

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, , wǒ mén jiù zhī dào háng xīng de zhōu qī yùn.

Long long ago, we knew the periodic motion of a planet.
5
类比式频宽以赫兹测量每秒的传送周期.

lèi bǐ shì pín kuān yǐ hè zī cè liáng měi miǎo de chuán sòng zhōu qī.

Analogue bandwidth is measured in Hertz Hz, cycles per second.
6
周期性的弯折在纤维中造成波形构成.

zhōu qī xìng de wān zhē zài xiān wéi zhōng zào chéng bō xíng gòu chéng.

The periodic buckling leaves the fibre in a waved conformation.
7
片层周期性地扩展, 形成扁平的有膜为界的囊,称为类囊体.

piàn céng zhōu qī xìng dì kuò zhǎn, , xíng chéng biǎn píng de yǒu mó wéi jiè de, náng , chēng wéi lèi.

Periodically , the lamellae become enlarged, forming flattened, membrane - enclosed vesicles called thylakoids.

Cultural Notes for 周期

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 周期 is tied to traditional beliefs in cycles of nature, such as the lunar calendar, which reflects the importance of cyclical patterns in agriculture and festivals.

Frequently Asked Questions about 周期

You might say, '市场经济有一个明显的经济周期' (The market economy has a clear economic cycle).