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March 24, 2026
年代niándài(nian2dai4)
年代 refers to a specific time period, often used to denote decades within a century. It can indicate an era in history or a person's age, and is commonly used in discussions about cultural, social, or historical contexts, such as the 'Sixties' or 'the modern era.'
Strokes11Frequency#1672DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, specific decades often invoke significant historical events, such as the Cultural Revolution, which is referred to by its decade. Understanding 年代 can provide insight into societal changes and attitudes during those times.
Memory Tip
Think of 年 (nián) meaning 'year' and 代 (dài) indicating 'generation' or 'era.' Picture a timeline where each decade is marked, connecting the concept of years passing and shaping generations.
Meanings of 年代
niándài(nian2dai4)
1a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties)
2age
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 年代
年代Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#1672Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 年代
Podcast: 年代
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AI Study Notes for 年代
Quick Contrast
年代 (niándài) vs 时代 (shídài) — use 年代 for specific time periods or decades, while 时代 refers more broadly to an era or age.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 年代, as it is often more formal and academic. It is commonly paired with other words to specify the type of period, such as 历史年代 (historical period). A common mistake is to confuse it with 年 (year), which refers to a single year rather than a span of time.
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 5 vocabulary, students should focus on using 年代 in context with other time-related words and phrases. Understanding its connection to history and culture in Chinese can deepen comprehension of discussions about significant time periods.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 年代 to refer to a specific year instead of a decade, for example saying '我出生在1980年代' (I was born in the 1980s) instead of '我出生在1980年' (I was born in 1980). Correct usage would specify the decade when necessary.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 年代
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How to say a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties) in Chinese
“a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties)” in Chinese is年代niándài
年代 refers to a specific time period, often used to denote decades within a century. It can indicate an era in history or a person's age, and is commonly used in discussions about cultural, social, or historical contexts, such as the 'Sixties' or 'the modern era.'
When to use 年代
Be mindful of the context in which you use 年代, as it is often more formal and academic. It is commonly paired with other words to specify the type of period, such as 历史年代 (historical period). A common mistake is to confuse it with 年 (year), which refers to a single year rather than a span of time.
年代 or something close to it
年代 (niándài) vs 时代 (shídài) — use 年代 for specific time periods or decades, while 时代 refers more broadly to an era or age.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 年代 to refer to a specific year instead of a decade, for example saying '我出生在1980年代' (I was born in the 1980s) instead of '我出生在1980年' (I was born in 1980). Correct usage would specify the decade when necessary.
Write 年代
年
代
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Grammar Patterns of 年代
年代 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
到80____末的时候，他们的数量已是原来的4倍。
By the late eighties their number had grown fourfold.
Example Sentences for 年代 (10)
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1
到80年代末的时候，他们的数量已是原来的4倍。
dào80 80 nián dài mò de shí， hòu ， tā mén de shù liáng yǐ shì yuán4 lái。
By the late eighties their number had grown fourfold.
In the fifties, many Italians spoke only local dialect.
10
那是个艰苦的年代。
nà shì gè jiān kǔ de nián dài。
It was an era of austerity.
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Cultural Notes for 年代
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, decades are also marked by cultural shifts, but often focus more on trends in music or fashion rather than historical significance.
Frequently Asked Questions about 年代
You can say '上个年代' (the last decade) to refer to the previous ten years.
While it primarily refers to decades, it can also describe broader historical periods.
Yes, but it’s more commonly used in formal or academic contexts.
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