How do you say "era" in Chinese?

时代

shí dài

Noun Hanzi

In Chinese, "era" is 时代 (shí dài).

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Pronunciation

It's spoken "shí dài" (second tone, then fourth tone), where rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?"; then the next syllable is snapping downward fast.

Writing and usage

时代 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

这项发明开启了一个新时代。

zhè xiàng fā míng kāi qǐ le yí gè xīn shí dài 。

The invention began a new era.

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How to remember 时代

Attach "shí dài" to a vivid snapshot of when the invention began a new era; the pairing is hard to forget.

Related words

Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.

Questions about 时代

How do you pronounce 时代?

It's spoken "shí dài" (second tone, then fourth tone), where rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?"; then the next syllable is snapping downward fast.

Is 时代 formal or casual?

时代 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is 时代 used in Chinese?

时代 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 这项发明开启了一个新时代。 (The invention began a new era.).

Where can I practice Chinese words for free?

You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Era" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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