What does 期 mean in Japanese?
期 means “period, term, expectation” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 期間 (period), 学期 (school term), and 期待 (expectation).
For learners, the key is to study 期 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: キ (ki), ゴ (go)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 期 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
期 is not limited to one English translation. In 期間 (きかん), it means period; in 学期 (がっき), it points to school term; and in 期待 (きたい), it is used for expectation. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 期間（きかん / kikan） — period
- 学期（がっき / gakki） — school term
- 期待（きたい / kitai） — expectation
- 時期（じき / jiki） — time; season
- 期限（きげん / kigen） — deadline
- 長期（ちょうき / chōki） — long term
Example Sentences
-
試験の期間は一週間です。
しけんのきかんはいっしゅうかんです。 / Shiken no kikan wa isshūkan desu.
The exam period is one week.
-
新しい学期が始まりました。
あたらしいがっきがはじまりました。 / Atarashii gakki ga hajimarimashita.
A new school term has begun.
-
よい結果を期待しています。
よいけっかをきたいしています。 / Yoi kekka o kitai shite imasu.
I am hoping for a good result.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 期間 (きかん / kikan) because it keeps the core meaning of 期 clear. Then add 学期 and 期待 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 期 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
期 means “period, term, expectation” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 期間, 学期, and 期待.