端境期(はざかいき)

はざかいき
noun
off-season, gap period, transition period
1. gap period between harvests
The period between the end of one harvest and the beginning of the next, when supplies are low.
野菜(やさい)の端境期(はざかいき)。
The gap period between vegetable harvests.
端境期(はざかいき)で野菜(やさい)の値段(ねだん)が上(あ)がっている。
Vegetable prices are rising due to the harvest gap.
夏(なつ)の端境期(はざかいき)を乗(の)り越(こ)える。
To get through the summer harvest gap.
2. off-season, slow period, transition period
A period of reduced activity or supply between two busy seasons or product cycles.
観光(かんこう)の端境期(はざかいき)。
The off-season for tourism.
新製品(しんせいひん)の端境期(はざかいき)で売(う)り上(あ)げが落(お)ちている。
Sales are down due to the transition period between new products.
人事(じんじ)異動(いどう)の端境期(はざかいき)で業務(ぎょうむ)が滞(とどこお)っている。
Work is stalled during the transition period of personnel changes.

端境期(はざかいき) refers to a gap or transition period.

ETYMOLOGY:
From 端(はた) (edge) + 境(さかい) (boundary) + 期(き) (period), literally 'boundary-edge period'.

ORIGINAL MEANING:
Originally referred specifically to the agricultural period between rice harvests when old rice was depleted and new rice wasn't yet available.

MODERN USAGE:
Now broadly used for any off-season or transition period in business, tourism, retail, etc.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 野菜(やさい)の端境期(はざかいき): vegetable off-season
  • 観光(かんこう)の端境期(はざかいき): tourism off-season
  • 端境期(はざかいき)を乗(の)り越(こ)える: to get through the slow period
general
Added 2026.2.4 23:18
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