Meaning and Usage
"初期" (chūqī) refers to the early or initial period of something, such as a project, disease, or product lifecycle. It emphasizes the beginning phase when things are just starting and often still developing or unstable.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used in technical, medical, and business contexts to describe the first stage of development or occurrence.
Collocations and Patterns
- 初期阶段 (chūqī jiēduàn): initial stage, often used in project or development contexts.
- 初期投资 (chūqī tóuzī): initial investment, common in business and finance.
- 疾病初期 (jíbìng chūqī): early stage of a disease, used in medical contexts.
Usage Notes
"初期" is a formal term and often appears in written language or professional speech. It differs from "开始" (kāishǐ), which means "to start" but is more general and can refer to actions rather than periods. Avoid confusing "初期" with "初次" (chūcì), which means "first time" and refers to occurrences rather than time periods.