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March 24, 2026
学期(學期)xuéqī(xue2qi1)
学期 (xuéqī) refers to an academic term or semester in the context of education, typically used to denote a specific period during which classes are held. This term is commonly used in schools and universities to divide the academic year into manageable sections for both students and teachers.
Strokes20Frequency#5104DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, the academic year is often divided into two main semesters, each lasting about six months, which is a structure that reflects the traditional emphasis on education as a pathway to success.
Memory Tip
Think of 学 (xué) as 'learning' and 期 (qī) as a 'period.' Visualize a student sitting at a desk with a calendar marked with different 学期, representing different learning periods. The 'xue' sounds like 'sway,' as in a student swaying in their chair during a long semester.
Meanings of 学期
xuéqī(xue2qi1)
1term
2semester
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About 学期
学期Simplified
學期Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5104Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 学期
Podcast: 学期
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AI Study Notes for 学期
Quick Contrast
学年 (xuénián) - use 学期 (xuéqī) when referring to a specific term within the academic year, whereas 学年 denotes the entire academic year.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 学期 is pronounced with the second tone for 学 and the first tone for 期. Common collocations include 学期末 (end of the term) and 学期中 (mid-term). It's generally used in formal educational contexts rather than casual conversation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 学期 connects with other educational vocabulary like 课程 (kèchéng - course) and 学生 (xuéshēng - student). Focus on using it in sentences about school schedules and academic planning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 学期 with 学年 (academic year). For example, saying '我在这个学年学习' (I study this semester) is incorrect; it should be '我在这个学期学习'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 学期
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Learning Lab
Knowing 学期 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
学期 (xuéqī) refers to an academic term or semester in the context of education, typically used to denote a specific period during which classes are held. This term is commonly used in schools and universities to divide the academic year into manageable sections for both students and teachers.
When to use 学期
Be cautious with the tone; 学期 is pronounced with the second tone for 学 and the first tone for 期. Common collocations include 学期末 (end of the term) and 学期中 (mid-term). It's generally used in formal educational contexts rather than casual conversation.
学期 or something close to it
学年 (xuénián) - use 学期 (xuéqī) when referring to a specific term within the academic year, whereas 学年 denotes the entire academic year.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 学期 with 学年 (academic year). For example, saying '我在这个学年学习' (I study this semester) is incorrect; it should be '我在这个学期学习'.
Write 学期
学
期
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Grammar Patterns of 学期
学期 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
