期末周

• Pinyin: qī mò zhōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 期末 (end of term) + 周 (week) -> finals week.

Meaning

Finals week at the end of a school term.

It evokes exams, deadlines, crowded libraries, and collective stress. Students use it as an explanation for disappearing from social life.

Examples

1. 期末周别找我，我在图书馆住下了。 Don’t look for me during finals week; I’ve moved into the library.
2. 期末周的咖啡销量特别高。 Coffee sales are especially high during finals week.
3. 熬过期末周就能回家了。 Once you get through finals week, you can go home.

Usage Guide

Context: campus, classmates, student social media

Tone: stressed, resigned

Do Say

• 期末周大家都忙，回复慢很正常。（During finals week, slow replies are normal.）

Don't Say

• 用期末周描述普通周测。（It means the end-of-term exam period.）

Common Mistakes

• Confusing it with 复习周; 期末周 usually includes the actual exams.

Origin & History

From 期末考试 plus 周, naming the concentrated final-exam period.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s-2020s

Generation: Students, Gen Z, and young office workers

Social background: Urban internet users

Regional notes: A high-pressure campus meme shared across majors and universities.