Chinese–EnglishWith examples

年代

nián dài · nian dai

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 5Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties)
  2. age
  3. era
  4. period
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:16 cartoon

An old song

  1. Liangliang

    这(zhè)首(shǒu)歌(gē)真(zhēn)好听(hǎotīng)！

    This song sounds really nice!

  2. Dengdeng

    这(zhè)是(shì)九十(jiǔshí)年代(niándài)的(de)歌(gē)。

    It is a song from the nineties.

  3. Liangliang

    九十(jiǔshí)年代(niándài)？那(nà)时候(shíhou)我(wǒ)还(hái)没(méi)出生(chūshēng)呢(ne)！

    The nineties? I was not born yet!

  4. Dengdeng

    那个(nàge)年代(niándài)，我(wǒ)已经(yǐjīng)会(huì)唱(chàng)了(le)。

    In that era, I could already sing.

  5. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)到底(dàodǐ)多大(duōdà)啦(la)？

    How old are you, exactly?

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

In a sentence

2 examples
01

50年(nián)代(dài)，芬(fēn)兰(lán)人(rén)被(bèi)认(rèn)为(wéi)是(shì)世(shì)界(jiè)上(shàng)饮(yǐn)食(shí)最(zuì)不(bú)健(jiàn)康(kāng)的(de)例(lì)子(zi)。

In the 1950's, the Finns were cited as having one of the least healthy diets in the world.

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

02

在(zài)这(zhè)个(ge)电(diàn)邮(yóu)的(de)年(nián)代(dài)里(lǐ)，我(wǒ)一(yì)收(shōu)到(dào)朋(péng)友(yǒu)寄(jì)给(gěi)我(wǒ)的(de)信(xìn)，就(jiù)会(huì)高(gāo)兴(xìng)得(de)不(bù)得(dé)了(liǎo)。

In the era of email, I'm so happy when a friend sends me a real letter.

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

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

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

The characters

Explore individually
年
nián

year

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.

More words starting with NExplore words in context