明代 (Míng dài) — the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Definition

noun

the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

明代。
Míng dài Shì zhōng guó lì shǐ shàng yí gè zhòng yào de cháo dài.
The Ming dynasty was an important period in Chinese history.
明代。
Zhè ge cí qì chǎn zì Míng dài.
This porcelain was produced in the Ming dynasty.
明代。
Míng dài De wén huà yì shù fēi cháng fán róng.
The culture and arts of the Ming dynasty were very prosperous.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

代dàiera/dynasty

明 names the dynasty and 代 means era or dynasty, together referring to the Ming period.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

日月明

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻弋代

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

弋

弋yì代dài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.