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世纪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
世纪shìjìcenturyHSK 4, n, rank #2099, Medium
世纪shìjì>个[gè]HSK 4, n, rank #2099, Medium
shìjì(shi4ji4) T4
  1. 1century
  2. 2>个[gè]
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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.

Frequency#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

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About 世纪

世纪Simplified
世紀Traditional
—Strokes
—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.

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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

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). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

“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” pū20 ” shì80 20 shì jì 80 nián dài shāng yè chéng gōng de。

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 lì shǐ kě yǐ zhuī sù dào gōng yuán qián4 4 shì。

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 fáng zǐ shì diǎn xíng de zhōng shì jì mín jū。

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 20 shì80 jì 80 nián dài chū jiù yǐ jīng shī qù zuò。

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 20 shì jì zǎo qī de sà sāi kè sī xiāng， cūn ， nà shí huán shì yòng mǎ。

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 jiū fēn zài18 1819 hé 19 shì jì dà liáng。

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 cháng shì zài ài ěr lán kāi tuò zhí mín dì shì zài12 12 shì。

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 20 shì80 jì 80， nián dài ， shì jiè jīn róng tǐ xì biàn dé gēng。

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 shì lì zài20 20 shì80 jì 80 nián dài yǒu suǒ。

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？

wéi shí mó xiāng liào zài15 15 shì jì mò qī de ōu zhōu rú cǐ guì？

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

Cultural Notes for 世纪

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Frequently Asked Questions about 世纪

You can say '二十一世纪' (èrshíyī shìjì).