朝代 (cháo dài) — dynasty | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

朝代 specifically means a ruling dynasty — a family line of emperors (e.g. 唐朝, 明朝). 时代 is broader ('era/age') and can refer to any time period, not a ruling house.

noun

dynasty

Examples

朝代。
Zhōng guó lì shǐ shàng yǒu míng de cháo dài hěn duō.
There are many famous dynasties in Chinese history.
朝代。
Měi gè cháo dài dōu yǒu zì jǐ dú tè de wén huà.
Each dynasty has its own unique culture.
朝代。
Zhè ge cháo dài yǒu sān bǎi nián de lì shǐ.
This dynasty has a history of three hundred years.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

朝 points to the ruling court, and 代 points to its span of time, so together they mean a dynasty.

Characters in this word

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

Originally, 朝 showed the sun rising above the ground while the moon was still in the sky, giving the sense of morning.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 5

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