Translation guide
The English word 'periodic' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: occurring at regular intervals, relating to cycles, and the scientific sense of the periodic table. It also touches on the mathematical meaning of periodic functions.
Describing something that happens repeatedly after a fixed amount of time, like daily, weekly, or yearly.
The most direct and common translation for 'periodic' in the sense of happening at regular intervals. Used for scheduled events, maintenance, reports, etc.
定期的な健康診断を受けています。
I have periodic health checkups.
このシステムは定期的にバックアップを取ります。
This system performs periodic backups.
Emphasizes a cyclical or recurring pattern, often used in scientific or technical contexts. Can also mean 'cyclical'.
Literally 'at fixed intervals'. A more descriptive phrase that can replace 'periodic' when you want to emphasize the regularity of the spacing.
薬を一定の間隔で服用してください。
Please take the medicine at periodic intervals.
Describing something that is part of a cycle, such as economic cycles, natural cycles, or historical periods.
Used for cyclical phenomena, like economic cycles, seasons, or biological rhythms.
景気には周期的な変動があります。
There are periodic fluctuations in the economy.
Means 'cyclical' or 'circular', often used for systems that repeat in a loop, like the economy or nature.
Referring to the periodic table of elements.
The standard term for the periodic table in chemistry.
周期表の元素を覚えていますか？
Do you remember the elements of the periodic table?
A more explicit term, literally 'element periodic table'. Sometimes used in educational contexts.
元素周期表は化学の基本です。
The periodic table of elements is fundamental to chemistry.
Describing a function that repeats its values at regular intervals, like sine or cosine.
The standard mathematical term for a periodic function.
サインとコサインは周期関数です。
Sine and cosine are periodic functions.
定期的 (ていきてき) is used for events that happen at fixed time intervals (daily, weekly, etc.), like meetings or maintenance. 周期的 (しゅうきてき) is used for natural or scientific cycles, like seasons or wave patterns. In many everyday contexts, 定期的 is the safer choice.
If you say 周期的な会議 (shuukiteki na kaigi), it sounds like the meeting happens in a natural cycle, which is odd. Use 定期的な会議 (teikiteki na kaigi) for a regularly scheduled meeting.
その機械は定期的なメンテナンスが必要です。
Periodic maintenance is required for the machine.
周期表はすべての既知の元素を整理しています。
The periodic table organizes all known elements.
この現象は周期的に発生します。
This phenomenon occurs periodically.
Many periodic processes can be seen in nature.