同期

• Pinyin: tóng qī
• Hanzi breakdown: 同 = 冂 (enclosure) + 口 (mouth) + 一; 期 = 其 (that) + 月 (moon/month)

Meaning

Same period; corresponding period. Used to compare data or events from the same time frame in different years or contexts.

Commonly used in business, economics, and statistics to make year-over-year comparisons. Also used in media production to refer to synchronized sound recording (同期声). Can refer to classmates who entered school or colleagues who joined a company at the same time.

Examples

1. 今年第一季度的销售额比去年同期增长了百分之二十。 Sales in the first quarter of this year increased by twenty percent compared to the same period last year.
2. 他和我是同期进公司的，现在都快十年了。 He and I joined the company at the same time, and it's been almost ten years now.
3. 这部纪录片大量使用了同期录音，显得特别真实。 This documentary extensively uses synchronized sound recordings, making it feel particularly authentic.

Usage Guide

Context: business, statistics, media

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 与去年同期相比，利润有所下降。(Compared to the same period last year, profits have declined somewhat.)
• 我们是同期入职的新员工。(We are new employees who joined at the same time.)

Don't Say

• 我们同期去看电影吧 — 不能用来表示'一起去'，那应该说'一起'或'同时'

Origin & History

Compound of 同 (same) + 期 (period, time). Straightforward combination meaning 'the same time period.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional