季度

• Pinyin: jì dù
• Hanzi breakdown: 季 = 禾 (grain) + 子 (child) — a period or season; 度 = 广 (shelter) + 又 (hand) + 廿 — a measure or degree

Meaning

Quarter (of a year). A three-month period used for business reporting, financial planning, and scheduling.

Divides a year into four periods: 第一季度 (Q1, Jan-Mar), 第二季度 (Q2, Apr-Jun), 第三季度 (Q3, Jul-Sep), 第四季度 (Q4, Oct-Dec). Primarily used in business, economics, and official contexts. Different from 季节 (natural season) — 季度 is strictly a calendar division for administrative and financial purposes.

Examples

1. 公司第三季度的销售额比去年增长了百分之十五。 The company's third-quarter sales increased by fifteen percent compared to last year.
2. 我们每个季度都要开一次总结会议。 We hold a summary meeting every quarter.
3. 这份季度报告需要在月底之前完成。 This quarterly report needs to be finished before the end of the month.

Usage Guide

Context: business, finance, reporting

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 第一季度的业绩不错。(The first quarter's performance was good.)
• 下个季度我们要调整计划。(We need to adjust the plan next quarter.)

Don't Say

• 春天的季度很美 (Don't use 季度 for natural seasons — use 季节 instead; 季度 is only for business/calendar quarters)

Origin & History

Composed of 季 (season/period) and 度 (measure/degree), together meaning a measured period of a season — specifically a quarter of the year.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal