期末

• Pinyin: qī mò
• Hanzi breakdown: 期 = 其 (that) + 月 (month) — a set period; 末 = a tree with a mark at the top — the tip or end

Meaning

End of term; end of semester. The final period of an academic term, typically associated with exams and final assessments.

Primarily used in academic contexts: 期末考试 (final exam), 期末成绩 (end-of-term grades), 期末总结 (end-of-term summary). Contrasts with 期中 (midterm) and 期初 (beginning of term). A word every student encounters regularly. Can also be extended to the end of any defined period in formal contexts.

Examples

1. 期末考试快到了，同学们都在认真复习。 Final exams are coming soon — all the students are revising seriously.
2. 她的期末成绩在全班排名第一。 Her end-of-term grades ranked first in the whole class.
3. 老师要求学生在期末交一篇论文。 The teacher requires students to submit an essay at the end of term.

Usage Guide

Context: school, university, academic

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 期末考试一般在一月份。(Final exams are usually in January.)
• 我期末要写三篇报告。(I need to write three reports for the end of term.)

Don't Say

• 工作的期末 for the end of a work period (Avoid 期末 for non-academic deadlines — use 截止日期 or 末期; 期末 is strongly associated with school terms)

Origin & History

A compound of 期 (term/period) and 末 (end/tip) — the end of a defined term or period.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal