dàoqī: 到期 - To Expire, To Be Due, To Mature

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 到期 (dàoqī), which means “to expire,” “to be due,” or “to mature.” This versatile word is crucial for everyday life in China, used for everything from your visa's expiration date and food labels to contract deadlines and library books. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with plenty of examples, helping you master a word you'll encounter constantly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dà​o​qī
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To reach a designated date or time limit; to expire or become due.
• In a Nutshell: 到期 (dàoqī) literally translates to “arrive at the period” or “reach the date.” It's a neutral, factual term that describes the moment when a time limit is up. Think of it as the endpoint of a countdown timer for any agreement, product, or official document. Whether it's a good thing (your loan is finally paid off!) or a bad thing (your passport is about to expire!), 到期 simply states that the time has come.

• 到 (dào): This character's primary meaning is “to arrive,” “to reach,” or “to get to.” Imagine arriving at a destination.
• 期 (qī): This character means “a period of time,” “a designated time,” or “a date.” It's used in words like `日期 (rìqī)` for “date” and `星期 (xīngqī)` for “week.”

When combined, 到 (dào) + 期 (qī) creates a very logical meaning: “to arrive at the designated date/time.” This perfectly captures the concept of something becoming due or expiring.

While 到期 (dàoqī) isn't a deep philosophical term like `关系 (guānxi)`, its importance lies in its ubiquity in modern Chinese society. It reflects the highly structured and contract-based nature of contemporary life in China. In English, we often use different words for different contexts: a visa “expires,” a library book is “due,” a bond “matures,” and a contract “terminates.” In Chinese, 到期 serves as a versatile, catch-all term for all these situations. This highlights a cultural emphasis on official deadlines and formal agreements. For anyone living in or dealing with China, hearing or seeing 到期 is a constant reminder of the administrative rhythm of life. From renewing your residence permit to paying your phone bill on time or even checking the milk carton, 到期 is a key term for navigating the practical, day-to-day responsibilities in a system where dates and deadlines are taken very seriously.

到期 is a high-frequency word used across various formal and informal contexts. Its connotation is almost always neutral; it's a statement of fact.

• Official Documents & Legal Matters: This is one of the most common uses. It applies to anything with an official expiration date.
  • Visas, passports, residence permits, driver's licenses.
• Commercial & Financial: Used for contracts, subscriptions, and financial products.
  • Rental agreements, employment contracts, gym memberships, phone plans, software subscriptions.
  • Bank loans, bonds, insurance policies.
• Everyday Life: You'll see this on products and for daily errands.
  • Food and medicine expiration dates (often on a label saying `有效期至…` followed by the date it `到期`).
  • Library books, coupons, gift cards.

• Example 1:
  • 我的签证下个月到期。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qiānzhèng xià ge yuè dàoqī.
  • English: My visa expires next month.
  • Analysis: A very common and important sentence for any foreigner in China. `下个月 (xià ge yuè)` specifies *when* it will be due.
• Example 2:
  • 这份合同三年后到期。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn hétong sān nián hòu dàoqī.
  • English: This contract expires in three years.
  • Analysis: Used in a formal business context. `份 (fèn)` is the measure word for contracts.
• Example 3:
  • 你看一下，这个牛奶什么时候到期？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn yīxià, zhège niúnǎi shénme shíhou dàoqī?
  • English: Can you take a look, when does this milk expire?
  • Analysis: A practical, everyday question. This shows how to use 到期 in a question with `什么时候 (shénme shíhou)`.
• Example 4:
  • 我的图书馆借书快要到期了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de túshūguǎn jièshū kuàiyào dàoqī le.
  • English: The books I borrowed from the library are about to be due.
  • Analysis: The structure `快(要)…了 (kuài(yào)…le)` is used to indicate that something is about to happen soon.
• Example 5:
  • 请注意，您的会员资格将于本月底到期。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zhùyì, nín de huìyuán zīgé jiāng yú běn yuèdǐ dàoqī.
  • English: Please be advised, your membership will expire at the end of this month.
  • Analysis: This is formal, written language you might receive in an email or official notice. `将于 (jiāng yú)` is a formal way to say “will be on/at.”
• Example 6:
  • 这张优惠券已经到期了，不能用了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng yōuhuìquàn yǐjīng dàoqī le, bù néng yòng le.
  • English: This coupon has already expired, you can't use it.
  • Analysis: Here, 到期 is used with `已经…了 (yǐjīng…le)` to describe a past event. Note the subtle difference with `过期`, explained in the next section.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的租房合同到期后，我打算搬家。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de zūfáng hétong dàoqī hòu, wǒ dǎsuàn bānjiā.
  • English: After our rental agreement expires, I plan to move.
  • Analysis: Shows how to use 到期 in a clause with `…后 (…hòu)`, meaning “after…”
• Example 8:
  • 这个项目的最后期限明天到期。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de zuìhòu qīxiàn míngtiān dàoqī.
  • English: The final deadline for this project is due tomorrow.
  • Analysis: Here, the subject is `最后期限 (zuìhòu qīxiàn)`, “the final deadline,” which itself can be described as being due.
• Example 9:
  • 如果您的护照快到期了，请尽快续办。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nín de hùzhào kuài dàoqī le, qǐng jǐnkuài xùbàn.
  • English: If your passport is about to expire, please renew it as soon as possible.
  • Analysis: A practical piece of advice. `续办 (xùbàn)` means to renew or extend an official document.
• Example 10:
  • 贷款到期时，你需要还清所有欠款。
  • Pinyin: Dàikuǎn dàoqī shí, nǐ xūyào huánqīng suǒyǒu qiànkuǎn.
  • English: When the loan matures/is due, you need to pay off the entire outstanding amount.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 到期 in a financial context, where it can be translated as “to mature.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 到期 (dàoqī) and 过期 (guòqī).

• 到期 (dàoqī) - To Be Due / To Expire (The Event)
  • This marks the *exact moment* the validity period ends. It's the deadline itself.
  • Think of it as “to reach the date.”
  • Correct: 我的签证 12月31号到期。 (Wǒ de qiānzhèng shí'èr yuè sānshíyī hào dàoqī.) - My visa is due on Dec 31st.
• 过期 (guòqī) - To Be Expired (The State)
  • This describes the state of being *past* the deadline. It means “to pass the date.”
  • You use this to describe something that is no longer valid *because* its due date has passed.
  • Correct: 我的牛奶过期了。 (Wǒ de niúnǎi guòqī le.) - My milk is expired.
  • Incorrect: 我的牛奶明天到期。 (My milk is due tomorrow.) While grammatically possible, it's more natural to say “My milk expires tomorrow” (我的牛奶明天到期) or “This milk is expired” (这个牛奶过期了). You don't usually say milk is “due.”

Common Mistake: Using 过期 (guòqī) when you mean 到期 (dàoqī).

• Incorrect: 我的作业明天过期。 (Wǒ de zuòyè míngtiān guòqī.)
  • This literally means “My homework will be in an expired state tomorrow.” It's awkward.
• Correct: 我的作业明天到期。 (Wǒ de zuòyè míngtiān dàoqī.)
  • This correctly means “My homework is due tomorrow.” It refers to the deadline, not the state of being past it.

• 过期 (guòqī) - The direct consequence of something having 到期; to be expired, to be past the date.
• 期限 (qīxiàn) - The time limit or deadline itself. The period before something is 到期.
• 截止日期 (jiézhǐ rìqī) - A more formal term for “deadline” or “cut-off date.” This is the specific date on which something will 到期.
• 有效期 (yǒuxiàoqī) - Period of validity; the time frame during which something is effective, before it 到期.
• 续签 (xùqiān) - To renew (a contract, visa, etc.). The action one takes when something is about to 到期.
• 合同 (hétong) - Contract. A very common type of document that has a date when it will 到期.
• 签证 (qiānzhèng) - Visa. Another key document for foreigners that will eventually 到期.
• 日期 (rìqī) - Date. The fundamental concept related to 到期.