“期”，这个汉字，由“月”与“其”两部分构成，其中“月”字部表明了它与时间息息相关。
The character "期", composed of the components "月" (moon) and "其", signifies its close relation to time.
想象一下，在古代的中国，两位朋友在月光下约定了一个见面的日子，并且盼望着这天的到来，这就是“期”字的原始含义。它不仅仅是一个简单的日期标记，更是人与人之间情感交流的桥梁，承载着对相聚时刻的期待与向往。
Imagine, in ancient China, two friends agreeing to meet under the moonlight on a certain day, eagerly awaiting the arrival of that day—this is the original meaning of the character "期". It is more than just a simple marker of a date; it serves as a bridge for emotional communication between people, carrying the anticipation and longing for the moment of reunion.
随着时间的流转，“期”这个字的意义也在不断地扩展。它既可以表示一个特定的时间段，如“学期”“时期”，也可以指代一种循环往复的周期，如“生命周期”“经济周期”。此外，当“期”用于表达“期望”“盼望”时，它更是传递了一种对美好未来的热切期盼。“期”字让我们得以窥见古人是如何以时间为轴，编织着人与人之间的情感纽带，以及他们对未来生活的美好憧憬。
As time passed, the meaning of "期" expanded. It can now represent a specific period, such as "semester" (学期) or "era" (时期), or a cyclical period, such as "life cycle" (生命周期) or "economic cycle" (经济周期). Moreover, when "期" is used to express "expectation" or "hope", it conveys a strong yearning for a better future. The character "期" allows us to glimpse how ancient people, with time as their axis, wove emotional bonds between one another and cherished their hopes for a bright future.
责编：赵骏逸
