How to say differentiate 'semesters' and 'quarters' in Chinese?

[philipbeckwith]

I learned that semester is 学期 in Chinese, but I have never learned the convention for naming 'quarters' as are typically used in America. Dictionaries have not been much help to me. Is there a Chinese convention for labeling 'quarters'? Are academic years even divided into quarters in China?

 

Thanks!

[陳德聰]

學期 can be used for any academic "term". It just so happens that uni in China has two academic terms, so it is understood to mean "semester" while there. Here, we have three terms, winter, spring, and summer, and all of them are still called 學期.

[philipbeckwith]

So it sounds like you use trimesters where you live. I don 't think you would have the same problem I have. Most schools where I am at use both semesters and quarters. Just using 学期 for both would be confusing. For example, is it possible to say in a simple way "first semester second quarter" in Chinese? Obviously 上学期第二学期 would be confusing. 

[imron]

Most schools where I am at use both semesters and quarters

That might be the case, but specifying semesters is redundant.

 

For example, if I say 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, 3rd quarter and 4th quarter, you will know exactly which semesters those quarters are in.

 

In cases where you absolutely had to mention semester as distinct from quarter, I would guess that a Chinese person would just talk about  上半年 and 下半年.

[Gharial]

My Longman (LDOCE4) E-C gives the academic as opposed to financial meaning of quarter as 学季, with the example 这个学季你修什么课? What classes are you taking this quarter?

[Demonic_Duck]

季度 looks to be the word for quarters of a year.

一年分两个学期，每个学期分两个季度.

[Gharial]

Maybe what you've supplied there will clinch it, Demonic Duck!

[philipbeckwith]

From what I am seeing, 学季 appears to work. Thanks everyone!

[eddyf]

For example, is it possible to say in a simple way "first semester second quarter" in Chinese? Obviously 上学期第二学期 would be confusing. 

 

Perhaps: 第一学期的后一半

[Angelina]