公元前 (gōng yuán qián) — before the common era (B.C.)
Definition
A bound term meaning 'before the Common Era' (B.C.) — pairs with a number and a year unit like 年 or 世纪. Use it (not 公元后) when referring to dates earlier than year 1.
noun
before the common era (B.C.)
Examples
- 公元前300。Zhè ge shì jiàn fā shēng zài gōng yuán qián 300 nián.This event happened in 300 BC.
- 公元前5，。gōng yuán qián 5 Shì jì, gǔ xī là wén míng dá dào dǐng fēng.In the 5th century BC, ancient Greek civilization reached its peak.
- 公元前221。Qín shǐ huáng tǒng yī zhōng guó shì zài gōng yuán qián 221 nián.Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BC.
Appears in
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