年代 niándài a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties)
a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties); age; era; period
How to remember 年代: 年 year + 代 era = a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties).
Characters
How it is used
- A decade of a century, or an era/period: 八十年代 (bāshí niándài) the eighties; 那个年代 that era.
- For decades, count within a century: 20世纪90年代 the 1990s.
- Contrast 时代 (shídài, a grand epoch/age); 年代 is a narrower decade or general "time period."
Example sentences
- 德国在1880年代采取了一种社会保障制度。 Déguó zài 1880niándài cǎiqǔ le yīzhǒng shèhuìbǎozhàng zhìdù.Germany adopted a social security system in the 1880's.
- 这些废墟年代久远。 Zhèxiē fèixū niándàijiǔyuǎn.These ruins are ancient.