一代人 (yī dài rén) — a generation (of people) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to people born and living during the same era — 'a generation.' Pairs naturally with 这, 上一, 下一 to specify which generation.

noun

a generation (of people)

Examples

一代人。
Wǒ men zhè yī dài rén jīng lì le hěn dà de biàn huà.
Our generation has experienced great changes.
。
Měi yì yī dài rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng.
Every generation has its own dreams.
。
Shàng yì yī dài rén chī le hěn duō kǔ.
The previous generation endured a lot of hardship.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Appears in

Life Stages & Age People (General)

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