Chinese–EnglishWith examples

古代

gǔ dài · gu dai

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. ancient times
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

A thousand-year-old cup

  1. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)杯子(bēizi)是(shì)古代(gǔdài)的(de)，已经(yǐjīng)一千(yīqiān)年(nián)了(le)！

    This cup is from ancient times. It is a thousand years old!

  2. Liangliang

    古代(gǔdài)人(rén)也(yě)用(yòng)杯子(bēizi)喝(hē)茶(chá)吗(ma)？

    Did people in ancient times drink tea from cups too?

  3. Dengdeng

    当然(dāngrán)，你(nǐ)看(kàn)这个(zhège)字(zì)，古代(gǔdài)的(de)字(zì)很(hěn)难(nán)认(rèn)。

    Of course. Look at this character. Ancient characters are hard to read.

  4. Liangliang

    这个(zhège)字(zì)我(wǒ)认识(rènshi)，是(shì)“茶(chá)”。

    I know this one! It is "tea".

  5. Dengdeng

    看来(kànlai)古代(gǔdài)人(rén)和(hé)我们(wǒmen)一样(yīyàng)，喝(hē)茶(chá)最(zuì)重要(zhòngyào)。

    So people in ancient times were like us: tea comes first.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

子(zǐ)是(shì)中(zhōng)国(guó)古(gǔ)代(dài)对(duì)有(yǒu)学(xué)问(wèn)的(de)人(rén)的(de)尊(zūn)称(chēng)，如(rú)孔(kǒng)子(zǐ)，老(lǎo)子(zǐ)，墨(mò)子(zǐ)，韩(hán)非(fēi)子(zǐ)。

The title "Zi" was an honorific title for learned scholars in ancient China, such as Confucius, Laozi, Mozi and Han Feizi.

Tatoeba: Chinese by jan_OkulaJu · English by jan_OkulaJu · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)真(zhēn)想(xiǎng)看(kàn)看(kàn)古(gǔ)代(dài)的(de)世(shì)界(jiè)是(shì)怎(zěn)样(yàng)的(de)。

I wish I could see the ancient world.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by Dejo · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
古
gǔ

ancient; old

代
dài

to substitute; to act on behalf of others

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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