guòqī: 过期 - To Expire, Overdue, Out of Date

• Keywords: guoqi, 过期, Chinese for expired, Chinese for overdue, what does guoqi mean, guoqi pinyin, Chinese food safety, expired visa in China, expired passport, outdated, overdue library book
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 过期 (guòqī), which means 'to expire' or 'to be overdue.' This comprehensive guide for beginners covers everything from expired food (过期食品) and overdue library books to an expired visa (签证过期). Understand its cultural context, see practical examples, and learn to differentiate it from similar words like “过时 (guòshí)” to use guòqī like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guò qī
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To pass a designated time limit; to expire or become overdue.
• In a Nutshell: 过期 (guòqī) is your go-to word for anything that has gone past its valid period. It's an extremely practical term you'll encounter daily in China. Think of the milk in your fridge, your passport, a promotional coupon, or even a library book. If it has a deadline and that deadline has passed, it's 过期.

• 过 (guò): This character means “to pass,” “to cross,” or “to go over.” You can visualize it as someone walking past a certain point. It signifies movement beyond a boundary, in this case, a boundary of time.
• 期 (qī): This character means “a period of time,” “a date,” or “a phase.” Notice the “moon” radical (月) on the right side. In ancient times, time was often measured by the cycles of the moon, so this character is fundamentally linked to dates and durations.
• Together: The characters literally combine to mean “pass the date” or “pass the period,” which perfectly captures the English concept of “expired” or “overdue.”

While “expiration” is a universal concept, its application in China has some specific cultural weight. In modern China, especially in urban areas, there is a high degree of awareness around food safety and expiration dates. On any packaged food item, you will always find the 生产日期 (shēngchǎn rìqī) - “production date” - and the 保质期 (bǎozhìqī) - “shelf life” or “quality guarantee period.” Unlike the sometimes ambiguous “best by” vs. “use by” dates in the West, the date derived from the 保质期 is generally seen as a hard cutoff. Consuming 过期 food is strongly advised against. On a bureaucratic level, having an 过期 document is a serious matter. An expired visa (签证过期 - qiānzhèng guòqī) or residence permit can lead to significant fines and legal trouble. This is much stricter than, for example, having an expired driver's license for a few days in some Western countries. The concept here is not one of simple lateness, but of a complete loss of validity. The system is often rigid, and the state of being 过期 immediately changes your legal status.

过期 is a high-frequency word used in many practical, everyday situations. Its connotation is almost always neutral-to-negative, as it signifies a loss of value, safety, or validity.

• Food and Medicine: This is the most common context. You'll use it when checking groceries, cleaning out your fridge, or looking at medicine.
• Documents and Bureaucracy: Essential for dealing with visas, passports, ID cards, and driver's licenses.
• Services and Offers: Used for memberships, subscriptions, tickets, and coupons that have a limited period of use.
• Figurative Usage: While less common than the literal meanings, 过期 can be used to describe an idea, a piece of news, or even a feeling that is no longer relevant or fresh. It implies something has “passed its sell-by date.”

• Example 1:
  • 这盒牛奶过期了，我们把它扔掉吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhè hé niúnǎi guòqī le, wǒmen bǎ tā rēng diào ba.
  • English: This carton of milk has expired, let's throw it away.
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday use. The particle “了 (le)” indicates a change of state—the milk has now entered the state of being expired.
• Example 2:
  • 我的护照快要过期了，我得赶紧去换一本新的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de hùzhào kuàiyào guòqī le, wǒ děi gǎnjǐn qù huàn yī běn xīn de.
  • English: My passport is about to expire, I have to hurry and get a new one.
  • Analysis: The phrase “快要…了 (kuàiyào…le)” means “about to…” It's a crucial pattern for talking about upcoming deadlines.
• Example 3:
  • 你借的这本书已经过期一个星期了，需要付罚款。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jiè de zhè běn shū yǐjīng guòqī yī ge xīngqī le, xūyào fù fákuǎn.
  • English: This book you borrowed is already a week overdue; you need to pay a fine.
  • Analysis: Here, 过期 (guòqī) clearly translates to “overdue.” The context of a library book makes the meaning clear.
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，先生，您的优惠券已经过期了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, xiānsheng, nín de yōuhuìquàn yǐjīng guòqī le.
  • English: Sorry, sir, your coupon has already expired.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you might hear from a cashier or service staff. “已经 (yǐjīng)” emphasizes that the expiration has already happened.
• Example 5:
  • 吃过期的药可能会对身体有害。
  • Pinyin: Chī guòqī de yào kěnéng huì duì shēntǐ yǒuhài.
  • English: Taking expired medicine can be harmful to your health.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 过期 (guòqī) functions as an adjective modifying “药 (yào - medicine).” The “的 (de)” particle links them together.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你的签证过期了，你会被认为是-非法居留。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ de qiānzhèng guòqī le, nǐ huì bèi rènwéi shì fēifǎ jūliú.
  • English: If your visa expires, you will be considered to be residing illegally.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the serious, legal consequences of an expired document.
• Example 7:
  • 这份合同下个月到期，我们千万不能让它过期。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn hétong xià ge yuè dàoqī, wǒmen qiānwàn bù néng ràng tā guòqī.
  • English: This contract expires next month; we absolutely must not let it become overdue.
  • Analysis: This shows the subtle difference between 到期 (dàoqī - to reach the due date) and 过期 (guòqī). 到期 is the event, 过期 is the state after the event.
• Example 8:
  • 他的很多想法都已经过期了，跟不上时代了。
  • Pinyin: Tā de hěnduō xiǎngfǎ dōu yǐjīng guòqī le, gēn bu shàng shídài le.
  • English: A lot of his ideas are already outdated; he can't keep up with the times.
  • Analysis: A figurative use. It implies his ideas are no longer fresh or valid, like expired food. Note that 过时 (guòshí) would also be appropriate here.
• Example 9:
  • 我得检查一下冰箱里有没有过期的食物。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děi jiǎnchá yīxià bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu méiyǒu guòqī de shíwù.
  • English: I need to check if there is any expired food in the fridge.
  • Analysis: A simple, practical question structure using “有/没有 (yǒu/méiyǒu)” to ask “is there or is there not…”.
• Example 10:
  • 我的健身房会员卡上个月就过期了，一直忘了续费。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de jiànshēnfáng huìyuánkǎ shàng ge yuè jiù guòqī le, yīzhí wàng le xùfèi.
  • English: My gym membership card expired last month, I kept forgetting to renew it.
  • Analysis: A common scenario related to services and subscriptions. “续费 (xùfèi)” means “to renew a fee/subscription.”

The biggest pitfall for learners is confusing 过期 (guòqī) with 过时 (guòshí).

• 过期 (guòqī): Used for items with a specific, official, or defined time limit. It's about validity.
  • Correct: 我的信用卡过期了。 (Wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ guòqī le.) - My credit card has expired.
  • Correct: 这个酸奶过期了。 (Zhège suānnǎi guòqī le.) - This yogurt has expired.
• 过时 (guòshí): Used for things that are out of fashion, style, or are technologically obsolete. It's about being outdated.
  • Correct: 这件衣服的款式很过时。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu de kuǎnshì hěn guòshí.) - The style of this piece of clothing is very outdated.
  • Correct: 用CD听音乐已经过时了。 (Yòng CD tīng yīnyuè yǐjīng guòshí le.) - Listening to music on CDs is already outdated.

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: ~~这台电脑过期了。~~ (Zhè tái diànnǎo guòqī le.)
• Why it's wrong: A computer doesn't have an official expiration date. It becomes obsolete or out of fashion.
• Correct: 这台电脑过时了。 (Zhè tái diànnǎo guòshí le.) - This computer is outdated.

While you *can* use 过期 figuratively for an idea, 过时 is often the more natural and precise choice for things related to fashion, technology, and style.

• 到期 (dàoqī) - To reach the due date; to mature. This is the exact moment of expiration. 过期 is the state *after* this moment has passed.
• 过时 (guòshí) - Outdated, out of fashion. The most important term to distinguish from 过期. Use for style, technology, and ideas, not things with a fixed deadline.
• 有效期 (yǒuxiàoqī) - Period of validity; expiration date. This is the noun for the date itself. The food is 过期 because it's past its 有效期.
• 保质期 (bǎozhìqī) - Shelf life; “guarantee quality period.” A specific type of 有效期 used for food and other consumables.
• 生产日期 (shēngchǎn rìqī) - Production date. The date you check to calculate when something will become 过期.
• 失效 (shīxiào) - To lose effect, to become invalid. A more formal synonym for 过期, often used in legal or technical contexts (e.g., a ticket or a law can 失效).
• 延期 (yánqī) - To postpone, to extend a deadline. This is the action one takes to prevent something from becoming 过期.