期间

• Pinyin: qī jiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 期 = 其 (that) + 月 (moon/month) — a set period; 间 = 门 (gate) + 日 (sun) — sunlight between gates, hence a space of time

Meaning

Period; duration; during. A span of time within which something happens, typically following a noun that specifies the time frame.

A formal time noun that always follows a specific period: 暑假期间 (during summer holiday), 会议期间 (during the meeting), 春节期间 (during Spring Festival). Cannot be used alone — it requires a modifying noun to specify which period. More formal than 的时候 (when/during) and commonly found in news and official language.

Examples

1. 春节期间，很多人都回家和家人团聚。 During Spring Festival, many people go home to reunite with their families.
2. 比赛期间，观众不能进入场地。 During the competition, spectators are not allowed to enter the field.
3. 留学期间，他交了很多外国朋友。 During his time studying abroad, he made many foreign friends.

Usage Guide

Context: news, announcements, formal writing

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 考试期间请保持安静。(Please keep quiet during the exam.)
• 实习期间我学到了很多。(I learned a lot during my internship.)

Don't Say

• 期间我去了北京 without specifying which period (Don't use 期间 at the start of a sentence without a preceding time noun — say 暑假期间我去了北京 or use 那段时间)

Origin & History

A compound of 期 (period/term) and 间 (between/space) — the space within a defined period.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal