淡季

• Pinyin: dàn jì
• Hanzi breakdown: 淡 = 氵 + 炎 (dilute, weak); 季 = 禾 + 子 (season)

Meaning

Off-season; slack season; a period of reduced business activity or demand.

Refers to a period when demand for goods or services is low, as opposed to 旺季 (peak season). Commonly used in retail, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Examples

1. 旅游淡季期间，当地酒店纷纷推出优惠活动吸引游客。 During the off-season for tourism, local hotels launched promotional offers one after another to attract visitors.
2. 冬季是建筑行业的淡季，许多工人选择返乡过年。 Winter is the slack season for the construction industry, and many workers choose to return home for the New Year.
3. 即便是在销售淡季，公司也要维持基本的运营和客户服务。 Even during the sales off-season, the company must maintain basic operations and customer service.

Usage Guide

Context: business, tourism, agriculture, retail

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们计划在淡季对店面进行装修升级。(We plan to renovate the store during the off-season.)
• 淡季时可以趁机培训员工，提升团队整体能力。(The off-season is a good opportunity to train employees and strengthen the team's overall capabilities.)

Don't Say

• 今天是淡季 — 淡季 refers to a span of weeks or months, not a single day; use 生意冷清 for a slow business day

Origin & History

淡 (light, low, weak) + 季 (season)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal