This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method includes: A terminal receives first information, where the first information is used to configure the terminal to measure signal quality of a first cell, the first cell is a neighboring cell of a serving cell of the terminal, the first information includes first indication information, and the first indication information indicates an effective time period for the terminal to measure the signal quality of the first cell. The terminal measures the signal quality of the first cell within the effective time period, to obtain a first measurement result. The terminal sends the first measurement result when the first measurement result meets a measurement reporting condition. This can reduce power consumption of the terminal and improve efficiency of measuring signal quality of the neighboring cell.