古代 gǔdài ancient times
How to remember 古代: 古 old + 代 era = ancient times.
Characters
How it is used
- Names a historical era and works as a noun/modifier: 古代中国 (gǔdài Zhōngguó) - ancient China, 在古代 (zài gǔdài) - in ancient times.
- Different from 古老 (gǔlǎo), an adjective describing how old something is (古老的传统 - an age-old tradition) - 古代 names the period itself and can't sit as a predicate (don't say 这个传统很古代).
- Common companion word: 古人 (gǔrén), people of ancient times.