月经
yuèjīng
In Chinese, 'period' as an interval of time referring to menstruation is translated as 月经 (yuèjīng).
月经 is the term used to refer to a menstrual period. Depending on the context, other words are used for different meanings of 'period': use 周期 for a cycle or duration in scientific contexts, 阶段 for a stage or phase in a process and 句号 for the punctuation mark at the end of a sentence.
Meaning: interval of time (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 月经 is composed of 月, meaning 'month' and 经, meaning 'menses' or 'passage'.
Which one should you use?
While 月经 is the standard term for the menstrual period, 句号 is the formal term for the punctuation mark (.), whereas the colloquial term 句點 is often used in Taiwan to refer to the same punctuation mark.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite or indirect way to refer to a period, you can use 例假.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the colloquial term 句點 is frequently used to refer to the period (.) at the end of a sentence instead of the formal 句号.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that one's period is late or has not arrived, the standard phrase is 月经没来.
How do you pronounce it?
yuèjīng
Did you know?
- To avoid the word 月经 entirely, people often use the phrase 大姨妈 which means 'big aunt'.
- The polite euphemism 例假 literally translates to 'regular holiday', making it a much gentler way to discuss menstruation in social settings.
- The word for menstruation, 月经, contains the character 经, which also means 'classic', 'scripture', or 'to pass through'.
Examples in context
- 我的月经没来。My period hasn't come.This sentence is useful for describing when a period has not arrived using 月经.Tatoeba #334264 by fucongcong, translation #500377 by blay_paul
- 她的月经不太准。Tā de yuèjīng bù tài zhǔn.Her period is not very regular.
- 月经期间要注意保暖。Yuèjīng qījiān yào zhùyì bǎonuǎn.You should keep warm during your period.
Example conversation
Xiaowen is feeling unwell at home and talking to Haoran.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我今天身体不舒服，是因为月经。Wǒ jīntiān shēntǐ bù shūfu, shì yīnwèi yuèjīng.I don't feel well today because of my period.
- 浩然 Haoran需要我帮你买药或热水袋吗？Xūyào wǒ bāng nǐ mǎi yào huò rèshuǐdài ma?Do you need me to buy medicine or a hot water bottle for you?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢，我只想休息一下。Xièxiè, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng xiūxi yīxià.Thanks, I just want to rest for a bit.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，你快去躺着吧。Hǎo de, nǐ kuài qù tǎngzhe ba.Okay, go lie down quickly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
