期中

• Pinyin: qī zhōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 期 = 其 (that) + 月 (month) — a set period; 中 = a vertical line through the centre of a rectangle — middle

Meaning

Midterm; middle of a term or period. Commonly refers to a midterm examination in academic contexts.

Primarily used in academic settings: 期中考试 (midterm exam), 期中总结 (mid-term review). Contrasts with 期末 (end of term). Less commonly used outside of school contexts. In some workplaces, 期中 can refer to the middle of a reporting period, but this is less frequent.

Examples

1. 期中考试考得不好，期末要更努力了。 The midterm exam didn't go well — I need to try harder for finals.
2. 学校下周要进行期中考试。 The school will hold midterm exams next week.
3. 老师在期中的时候跟家长谈了孩子的学习情况。 The teacher spoke with parents about the child's learning progress at midterm.

Usage Guide

Context: school, university, academic

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 期中考试你准备好了吗？(Are you ready for the midterm exam?)
• 这学期的期中成绩还不错。(The midterm grades this semester are pretty good.)

Don't Say

• 会议期中 (Don't use 期中 for the middle of a meeting — use 会议中间 or 会议进行中; 期中 is specifically for academic or defined calendar periods)

Origin & History

A compound of 期 (term/period) and 中 (middle/centre) — the middle of a defined term or period.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal