活期 huóqī current (account)
(banking) current (account); checking (account); demand (deposit etc)
How to remember 活期: 活 alive + 期 a period of time = current (account).
Characters
How it is used
- A banking term for a 'current/demand' account you can withdraw from anytime - 活期存款 (huóqī cúnkuǎn) demand deposit.
- Contrast 定期 (dìngqī, fixed-term deposit) that locks money in for higher interest; 活期 is flexible but low-interest.
- The pair 活期/定期 is the basic savings-account distinction at any Chinese bank.