定期
Meaning in Englishfixed term, regular period, commuter pass
Animated kanji stroke order
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)