秋季

• Pinyin: qiū jì
• Hanzi breakdown: 秋 = 禾 (grain) + 火 (fire) — the harvest season when grain is dried; 季 = 禾 (grain) + 子 (child) — a period in the cycle of growing

Meaning

Autumn; the autumn season. The third season of the year, between summer and winter.

A slightly more formal synonym for 秋天. Used especially in written contexts, weather reports, and seasonal descriptions (秋季运动会, autumn sports meet; 秋季学期, autumn semester). China's autumn is celebrated for pleasant weather, harvest festivals, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Common pairings: 秋季到了 (autumn has arrived), 秋季服装 (autumn clothing).

Examples

1. 秋季是北京最舒服的季节，天气凉爽又干燥。 Autumn is the most comfortable season in Beijing — the weather is cool and dry.
2. 学校的秋季运动会下个星期举行。 The school's autumn sports meet will be held next week.
3. 很多水果都是在秋季成熟的。 Many fruits ripen in autumn.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, education, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 秋季的风景特别美，到处都是金黄色的叶子。(The autumn scenery is especially beautiful — golden leaves are everywhere.)
• 秋季是旅游的好时候。(Autumn is a great time for travelling.)

Don't Say

• 现在是秋季天 (Don't add 天 after 秋季 — 秋季 already means 'autumn season'; just say 现在是秋季 or use 秋天 instead)

Origin & History

A compound of 秋 (autumn — originally depicting grain near fire, the harvest season) and 季 (season), together simply meaning 'the autumn season'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal