fan1 kei4分期

Jyutpingfan1 kei4

Yalefān kèih

副詞Rare

Definition

By stages or in installments, especially referring to payments.

by stage; in phases over time
by installments (referring to payment or repayment)

colloquialmoneywork

How it's used

While often associated with financial transactions like credit card payments, this term is equally applicable to any project or task that requires a phased approach. It implies a deliberate division of time or effort to manage a larger burden. When used in a business or construction context, it highlights the necessity of breaking down complex goals into manageable parts.

Examples

maai5買le1呢bou6部din6電waa2話ho2可ji5以fan1分kei4期bei2畀cin2錢㗎。

You can pay for this phone in instalments.

gung1工cing4程jiu3要fan1分kei4期zeon3進hang4行，m4唔ho2可ji5以jat1一ci3次gwo3過zou6做saai3晒。

The project needs to be done in stages, it cannot be finished all at once.

Common phrases

fan1分kei4期fu6付fun2款

pay by instalments

fan1分kei4期waan4還fun2款

repay by instalments

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 分開, which simply means to separate things physically. Remember that 分期 specifically refers to a temporal sequence or a schedule of stages, not just a spatial separation.