Meaning and Usage
"季刊" (きかん) refers to something published quarterly, typically used for magazines, journals, or collections of articles. It literally means "seasonal publication," indicating four issues per year, one for each season.
Common Contexts
You will often see "季刊" used in academic or literary contexts, such as "季刊誌" (quarterly magazine) or "季刊論文集" (quarterly journal of papers). It is a formal term and commonly appears in publishing and research environments.
Collocations and Patterns
- 季刊誌 (きかんし): quarterly magazine
- 季刊論文集 (きかんろんぶんしゅう): quarterly collection of academic papers
- 季刊で発行される: published quarterly
Usage Notes
When using "季刊," it is important to note that it specifically means four times a year, unlike "月刊" (monthly) or "年刊" (annual). Learners sometimes confuse "季刊" with "期間" (きかん), which means "period" or "term," so be careful with pronunciation and context.
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"季刊" is a neutral to formal term, suitable for written and spoken Japanese in professional or academic settings.