定期
Meaning in Englishfixed term, regular period, commuter pass
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
定期 means regular or fixed in time, indicating events that recur at set intervals, and it also refers to a subscription or pass that lasts for a defined period.
Main meanings
- regular or recurring at fixed intervals, often used in the sense of a routine or schedule
- a fixed term or fixed period, such as within a timetable or calendar
- a subscription or commuter pass when used in compounds like 定期券
How to use it
Used in formal and everyday language to describe schedules, periodic payments, and recurring checks; functions as a noun and appears in compounds such as 定期的, 定期券, and 定期検査; typically occurs in written instructions, schedules, or forms.
Variants and close terms
- 定常 (ていじょう, teijou) — steady, constant
- 規則的 (きそくてき, kisokuteki) — regular, systematic
- 不定期 (ふていき, futeiki) — irregular
- 定期券 (ていきけん, teikiken) — commuter pass
Composition
- 定: fix, establish; used here to indicate a fixed state or condition
- 期: term, period; denotes a set time or deadline
- combined meaning: a fixed term or a scheduled interval
Etymology
Borrowed from Chinese, combining on'yomi readings 定 (tei) and 期 (ki) to form teiki; the pronunciation and sense reflect Sino-Japanese compound formation that expresses a fixed time concept.
Origin
The concept appeared in Japanese with the adoption of Chinese characters; modern sense of regularity and scheduled services solidified during the Meiji period through administrative and commercial language.
Word class
noun (名詞)