季节

• Pinyin: jì jié
• Hanzi breakdown: 季 = 禾 (grain) + 子 (child) — a period; 节 = 艹 (grass) + 即 (phonetic) — a joint or division point

Meaning

Season. One of the four natural divisions of the year based on weather and climate.

Refers to the four seasons: 春天/春季 (spring), 夏天/夏季 (summer), 秋天/秋季 (autumn), 冬天/冬季 (winter). Also used metaphorically in expressions like 换季 (change of season) and 季节性 (seasonal). Unlike 季度 which is a business term, 季节 relates to nature, weather, and daily life.

Examples

1. 你最喜欢哪个季节？ Which season do you like best?
2. 换季的时候很容易感冒。 It's very easy to catch a cold when the seasons change.
3. 不同的季节应该吃不同的水果。 You should eat different fruits in different seasons.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, daily life, nature

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 这个季节的天气真好。(The weather is really nice this season.)
• 每个季节都有不同的美。(Every season has its own beauty.)

Don't Say

• 公司的季节报告 (Don't use 季节 for business quarters — use 季度 instead; 季节 is for natural seasons)

Origin & History

A compound of 季 (season/period) and 节 (joint/section), together expressing a natural division or segment of the year.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal