yuèdù: 月度 - Monthly

Keywords: yuèdù, 月度, monthly Chinese, monthly report, monthly meeting, monthly in Chinese, per month, on a monthly basis, Chinese business vocabulary, HSK 5, Chinese time words

Summary: Learn how to use 月度 (yuèdù), the formal Chinese word for “monthly.” Primarily used in business, finance, and official contexts, it's essential for understanding things like monthly reports (月度报告), meetings, and summaries. This guide breaks down its meaning, compares it to the more casual 每月 (měi yuè), and provides practical examples to help you use it correctly in professional settings.

Pinyin (with tone marks): yuèdù

Part of Speech: Adjective / Adverb

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: Pertaining to or occurring on a monthly basis; monthly.

In a Nutshell: Think of `月度` as the “business formal” version of “monthly.” While you might tell a friend you go to the gym “every month” (`每月`), you would tell your boss you are submitting the “monthly” (`月度`) report. It adds a layer of formality and implies a recurring, scheduled event within a system, like a company's fiscal calendar or a government's data release schedule.

月 (yuè): This character is a pictograph of the crescent moon. It is the standard word for both “moon” and “month,” as ancient calendars were based on lunar cycles.

度 (dù): This character means “degree,” “measure,” or “period.” It often suggests a system or a defined span of time or space.

When combined, 月度 (yuèdù) literally translates to a “month-measure” or “monthly period.” This combination elevates the simple concept of “month” into a formal term for a recurring cycle, which is why it's so prevalent in structured environments like business and administration.

The term `月度` doesn't carry deep ancient cultural weight, but its widespread use is very significant in modern China. It reflects the globalized, structured, and data-driven nature of contemporary Chinese business and governance.

The emphasis on regular reporting cycles—`月度` (monthly), `季度` (jìdù, quarterly), and `年度` (niándù, annually)—highlights a management philosophy focused on tracking progress, accountability, and planning. This is a universal concept in modern corporate culture, and China is no exception.

In a Western context, “monthly” can be used both formally (“monthly sales report”) and informally (“our monthly book club meeting”). In Chinese, `月度` is almost exclusively reserved for the former. The informal equivalent would be `每月一次的读书会` (měi yuè yí cì de dúshūhuì), “the book club that meets once a month.” This distinction showcases a clearer separation between formal/business language and casual/social language in Chinese.

`月度` is most commonly used as an adjective to modify nouns related to business operations, finance, and official data.

Formality: `月度` is formal. It is almost never used in casual conversation about personal life. For instance, you would not use it to describe your monthly visit to your parents.

The Biggest Mistake: `月度 (yuèdù)` vs. `每月 (měi yuè)`