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世纪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
世纪shìjìcenturyHSK 4, n, 11 strokes, rank #2099, Medium
shìjì(shi4ji4)shi ji T4
  1. 1century
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March 24, 2026

世纪(世紀)shìjì(shi4ji4)

世纪 (shìjì) refers to a period of one hundred years, commonly used to discuss historical events or time periods. It is often used in contexts like discussing the 20th century or planning events that span decades.

Strokes11Frequency#2099DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, centuries are often referenced in discussions about historical changes, such as the transition from the Qing dynasty to modern China, highlighting significant cultural shifts.

Memory tip

Think of 世 (shì) as the 'world' and 纪 (jì) as 'record'—together they form 'record of the world' over a hundred years. Visualize a large clock ticking for a century, marking significant events.

Meanings of 世纪

shìjì(shi4ji4)
1century
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 世纪 means.

About 世纪

世纪Simplified
世紀Traditional
11Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2099Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 世纪

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Podcast: 世纪

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AI study notes for 世纪

Quick Contrast

年代 (niándài) refers to a specific period or era, while 世纪 (shìjì) specifically denotes a century, emphasizing a duration of one hundred years.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; '世纪' should always be spoken with the fourth tone on both syllables. It often collocates with numbers (e.g., 二十一世纪 for '21st century') and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, '世纪' connects to other time-related vocabulary, such as 年 (year) and 月 (month). Focus on using it in sentences that describe historical timelines or personal experiences over long periods.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '世纪' with '年代' (niándài), which refers to a specific decade rather than a century. For example, saying '二十世纪' (èrshí shìjì) instead of '二十一世纪' (èrshíyī shìjì) can lead to misunderstandings about the time period being discussed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 世纪

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Component characters

世shìlife
5 strokes一
View full entry
纪Jǐalso pr. [Jì]
HSK 76 strokes纟
View full entry

How to say century in Chinese

“century” in Chinese is世纪shìjì

世纪 (shìjì) refers to a period of one hundred years, commonly used to discuss historical events or time periods. It is often used in contexts like discussing the 20th century or planning events that span decades.

When to use 世纪

Be cautious with the tone; '世纪' should always be spoken with the fourth tone on both syllables. It often collocates with numbers (e.g., 二十一世纪 for '21st century') and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

世纪 or something close to it

年代 (niándài) refers to a specific period or era, while 世纪 (shìjì) specifically denotes a century, emphasizing a duration of one hundred years.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '世纪' with '年代' (niándài), which refers to a specific decade rather than a century. For example, saying '二十世纪' (èrshí shìjì) instead of '二十一世纪' (èrshíyī shìjì) can lead to misunderstandings about the time period being discussed.

Write 世纪

世
纪

Practice writing 世纪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 世纪

世纪 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

“袜铺”是20____80年代商业成功的范例之一。

Sock Shop was one of the high-street success stories of the 80s.

Example sentences for 世纪 (10)

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1
“袜铺”是20世纪80年代商业成功的范例之一。

“ wà pū” shì20 shìjì80 niándài shāngyè chénggōng de fàn lì zhīyī。

Sock Shop was one of the high-street success stories of the 80s.
2
这枚胸针的历史可以追溯到公元前4世纪。

zhè méi xiōng zhēn de lìshǐ kěyǐ zhuīsù dào gōngyuán qián4 shìjì。

The brooch dates back to the fourth century BC.
3
这所房子是典型的中世纪民居。

zhè suǒ fángzi shì diǎnxíng de zhōng shìjì mínjū。

The house is a textbook example of medieval domestic architecture.
4
这座电站到20世纪80年代初就已经失去作用了。

zhè zuò diàn zhàn dào20 shìjì80 niándài chū jiù yǐjīng shīqù zuòyòng le。

By the early 1980s, the power station had outlived its purpose.
5
这是20世纪早期的萨塞克斯乡村,那时还是用马拉犁。

zhè shì20 shìjì zǎoqī de sà sāi kè Sī xiāngcūn, nà shí háishi yòng mǎ lā lí。

This is early-20th-century rural Sussex, when horses still pulled the plough.
6
这类纠纷在18和19世纪大量增多。

zhè lèi jiūfēn zài18 hé19 shìjì dàliàng zēngduō。

Such disputes multiplied in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
7
英国最早尝试在爱尔兰开拓殖民地是在12世纪。

Yīng guó zuì zǎo chángshì zài ài ěr lán kāituò zhímíndì shì zài12 shìjì。

The first British attempt to colonize Ireland was in the twelfth century.
8
在20世纪80年代,世界金融体系变得更加开放。

zài20 shìjì80 niándài, shìjiè jīnróng tǐxì biàn de gèngjiā kāifàng。

During the 1980s the world's financial systems became more open.
9
极右势力在20世纪80年代有所抬头。

jí yòu shìlì zài20 shìjì80 niándài yǒusuǒ táitóu。

The extreme right reared its ugly head in the 1980s.
10
为什么香料在15世纪末期的欧洲如此贵重?

wèishénme xiāngliào zài15 shìjì mò qī de ōuzhōu rúcǐ guìzhòng?

Why were spices so highly valued in late 15th-century Europe?

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Frequently asked questions about 世纪

You can say '二十一世纪' (èrshíyī shìjì).

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