rìqī: 日期 - Date

• Keywords: 日期, riqi, Chinese word for date, how to say date in Chinese, what is riqi, date in Mandarin, writing the date in Chinese, calendar date in Chinese, schedule, appointment, deadline, expiration date
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 日期 (rìqī), which means “date” in the context of a calendar (e.g., September 1st, 2023). This page breaks down its simple characters (日 sun/day + 期 period), explains its crucial role in daily life for scheduling and official documents, and contrasts it with the word for a romantic “date.” Discover the proper Chinese date format (YYYY-MM-DD) and understand how this “big-to-small” logic reflects a broader cultural perspective. This is a must-know term for any beginner learning practical, everyday Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rìqī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A specific day on the calendar, identified by its month and year.
• In a Nutshell: 日期 (rìqī) is the standard, neutral word for a calendar date. It's the term you use to ask “What's the date today?”, to write your birthday on a form, or to check the expiration date on a milk carton. It's a straightforward combination of “day” (日) and “period” (期), logically meaning “a specific day within a period.” Importantly, this term has nothing to do with a romantic date.

• 日 (rì): This character is a pictogram of the sun. Its primary meanings are “sun,” “day,” or “daytime.” It's one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese.
• 期 (qī): This character is composed of 其 (qí), which provides the sound, and 月 (yuè), the radical for “moon” or “month.” Together, it means a “period of time,” “a designated time,” or a “phase” (like a phase of the moon).

When combined, 日期 (rìqī) literally translates to “day-period,” which perfectly captures the concept of a specific day within a larger period of time (like a month or year).

The most significant cultural point about 日期 (rìqī) for a Western learner is the format. In China, and much of East Asia, dates are written from the largest unit of time to the smallest. Big-to-Small vs. Small-to-Big

• Chinese Standard (Big-to-Small): Year - Month - Day (e.g., 2023年10月26日)
• American Standard (Small/Mid-to-Big): Month - Day - Year (e.g., October 26, 2023)
• European Standard (Small-to-Big): Day - Month - Year (e.g., 26 October 2023)

This “big-to-small” structure is not just for dates; it's a reflection of a broader cultural logic of contextualizing the specific within the general. You see the same pattern in Chinese addresses, which start with the country and end with the apartment number, the opposite of the typical Western format. Understanding this principle helps you grasp why Chinese dates are structured the way they are—it's about establishing the broad context (the year) before moving to the specific (the day).

日期 (rìqī) is a high-frequency, practical word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• Formal & Written Contexts: This is where you'll see 日期 most often.
  • Forms: Filling out `出生日期` (chūshēng rìqī - date of birth).
  • Products: Checking the `生产日期` (shēngchǎn rìqī - production date) or `有效日期` (yǒuxiào rìqī - expiration date).
  • Documents: Official letters, contracts, and reports will always have a 日期 field.
• Spoken & Informal Contexts: In daily conversation, it's common to ask for the date or schedule events.
  • “What's the date today?” - `今天的日期是几月几号？` (Jīntiān de rìqī shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào?)
  • “The meeting date is next Monday.” - `会议的日期是下周一。` (Huìyì de rìqī shì xià zhōu yī.)

The connotation is completely neutral. It's a functional, objective word for specifying a point in time.

• Example 1:
  • 请在这里填写今天的日期。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tiánxiě jīntiān de rìqī.
  • English: Please fill in today's date here.
  • Analysis: A very common instruction you'll encounter when dealing with paperwork or forms in China. `填写 (tiánxiě)` means “to fill in.”
• Example 2:
  • 你还记得我们第一次见面的日期吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ hái jìdé wǒmen dì yī cì jiànmiàn de rìqī ma?
  • English: Do you still remember the date we first met?
  • Analysis: Here, 日期 is used to refer to a specific, memorable date in the past.
• Example 3:
  • 这瓶牛奶的生产日期是昨天。
  • Pinyin: Zhè píng niúnǎi de shēngchǎn rìqī shì zuótiān.
  • English: This bottle of milk's production date is yesterday.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a practical, everyday use of the term when checking products at a supermarket.
• Example 4:
  • 我们需要确定一下会议的最终日期。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào quèdìng yīxià huìyì de zuìzhōng rìqī.
  • English: We need to confirm the final date for the meeting.
  • Analysis: A common phrase used in business or academic settings for scheduling.
• Example 5:
  • 护照上的出生日期不能写错。
  • Pinyin: Hùzhào shàng de chūshēng rìqī bùnéng xiě cuò.
  • English: The date of birth on the passport cannot be written incorrectly.
  • Analysis: Highlights the formal and official use of 日期, where accuracy is critical.
• Example 6:
  • 老师，交作业的截止日期是什么时候？
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, jiāo zuòyè de jiézhǐ rìqī shì shénme shíhòu?
  • English: Teacher, when is the deadline for handing in the homework?
  • Analysis: Shows how 日期 is often combined with other words, like `截止 (jiézhǐ)`, to mean “deadline date.”
• Example 7:
  • 活动的日期可能会有变化，请随时关注我们的网站。
  • Pinyin: Huódòng de rìqī kěnéng huì yǒu biànhuà, qǐng suíshí guānzhù wǒmen de wǎngzhàn.
  • English: The date of the event might change, please follow our website for updates.
  • Analysis: Used in public announcements to inform people about potential scheduling changes.
• Example 8:
  • 历史书上清楚地记录了这个事件的日期。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ shū shàng qīngchǔ de jìlùle zhège shìjiàn de rìqī.
  • English: The history book clearly recorded the date of this event.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in a historical or academic context.
• Example 9:
  • 无论日期怎么变，我们的友谊永不变。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn rìqī zěnme biàn, wǒmen de yǒuyì yǒng bù biàn.
  • English: No matter how the dates change, our friendship will never change.
  • Analysis: A more poetic or sentimental usage, where 日期 represents the passage of time.
• Example 10:
  • 他的签证日期快到了，必须马上去续签。
  • Pinyin: Tā de qiānzhèng rìqī kuài dào le, bìxū mǎshàng qù xùqiān.
  • English: His visa's expiration date is almost here, he must go renew it immediately.
  • Analysis: A crucial use for expatriates and travelers, referring to the validity period of official documents.

The #1 Mistake: Confusing `日期` (rìqī) with `约会` (yuēhuì) This is a classic “false friend” for English speakers. In English, the word “date” can mean a calendar date or a romantic meeting. In Chinese, these are two completely different words.

• 日期 (rìqī): ONLY a calendar date (e.g., December 25th).
• 约会 (yuēhuì): An appointment, a social engagement, or specifically a romantic date.

Incorrect Usage: `我今天晚上有一个日期。` (Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshàng yǒu yī gè rìqī.)

• Why it's wrong: This literally means “I have a calendar date tonight,” which is nonsensical. It sounds like you are a character in a calendar.
• Correct Usage: `我今天晚上有一个约会。` (Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshàng yǒu yī gè yuēhuì.) - “I have a date/appointment tonight.”

Subtle Difference: `日期` vs. `日子` (rìzi)

• 日期 (rìqī) is specific and formal. It refers to the designated name of the day on the calendar (e.g., “The date is 2023-10-26”).
• 日子 (rìzi) is more general and often more personal. It can mean “day,” “date,” or refer to a period of one's life. Example: `我们定个日子见面吧。` (Wǒmen dìng ge rìzi jiànmiàn ba.) - “Let's set a day to meet.” Here, `日子` feels a bit more flexible and conversational than the more rigid `日期`.

• 约会 (yuēhuì) - An appointment or a romantic date. The most important distinction to make.
• 日子 (rìzi) - A more general and personal term for “day” or “a date (to do something).”
• 截止日期 (jiézhǐ rìqī) - A deadline or cut-off date. A very common and specific use of 日期.
• 有效日期 (yǒuxiào rìqī) - Expiration date, validity date. Also known as `保质期 (bǎozhìqī)` (shelf life).
• 生日 (shēngrì) - Birthday (literally “birth date”).
• 时间 (shíjiān) - Time. The broader concept under which 日期 falls.
• 年 (nián) - Year. The first component of a Chinese date.
• 月 (yuè) - Month. The second component of a Chinese date.
• 日 (rì) / 号 (hào) - Day of the month. `日` is more formal/written, while `号` is more common in speech.
• 星期 (xīngqī) - Week. A related unit of time.