定期

• Reading: ていき
• Romaji: teiki
• Kanji breakdown: 定 (fixed/decided) + 期 (period/time) → periodic, regular
• Pronunciation: /teː.ki/

Meaning

A tag meaning 'periodic reminder' — used when posting something you've said before or that deserves repeated attention.

定期 (teiki, meaning 'periodic/regular') is used on social media to label a post as a recurring statement — something the user posts regularly because they feel strongly about it. It functions like saying 'as I always say' or 'periodic reminder.' Common on Twitter/X for repeated opinions, jokes, or PSAs that the poster considers worth reiterating.

Examples

1. 定期：推しが世界一かわいい。 Periodic reminder: my fave is the cutest in the world.
2. 水分補給大事、定期。 Staying hydrated is important, periodic reminder.
3. 定期ですけど、このアニメは全人類見るべき。 Periodic reminder, but everyone on earth should watch this anime.

Usage Guide

Context: social media, Twitter/X

Tone: self-aware, emphatic

Do Say

• 定期：睡眠は大事 (Periodic reminder: sleep is important)
• 推しが天才、定期。 (My fave is a genius, as always.)

Don't Say

• 仕事のメールで「定期」とタグ付けするのは不適切 (Tagging work emails with 'teiki' is inappropriate — it's social media slang)

Common Mistakes

• Using 定期 outside of social media contexts where the self-referential humor doesn't land
• Confusing it with 定期的に (teikiteki ni, regularly), which is standard Japanese

Origin & History

Adopted from the word 定期 (teiki, periodic/regular), commonly seen in phrases like 定期券 (commuter pass). Its social media usage as a self-aware label for recurring posts emerged in the early 2010s on Twitter.

Cultural Context

Era: Early 2010s Twitter culture

Generation: Social media users, teens to 30s

Social background: Online/social media

Regional notes: Used across Japan on social media platforms.