年代久远 (nián dài jiǔ yuǎn) — (of objects, places, or traditions) to be of great antiquity; to have a long history

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'very old / age-old', used for things, places, or traditions that go back a long time. Often followed by 已有…历史 to emphasize the age.

verb
(of objects, places, or traditions) to be of great antiquityto have a long history

Examples

  • 年代久远，。
    Zhè xiē qīng tóng qì nián dài jiǔ yuǎn, jù yǒu hěn gāo de yán jiū jià zhí.
    These bronze vessels are very ancient and have high research value.
  • 年代久远，。
    Zhè zuò sì miào nián dài jiǔ yuǎn, jù shuō yǐ yǒu shàng qiān nián de lì shǐ.
    This temple is of great antiquity; it is said to have a history of over a thousand years.
  • 年代久远，。
    Zhè ge chuán tǒng nián dài jiǔ yuǎn, zhì jīn réng zài mín jiān liú chuán.
    This tradition is age-old and still continues among the people today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

年代years
年niányear代dàiera
联合Side by side
久远long ago
久jiǔlong远yuǎnfar
联合Side by side

年代 means years or era, 久远 means long and far back, together saying the era stretches into the past.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾héwheat; grain
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén年nián
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

年 pairs 禾 (grain) with 人, which gives the sound. Its original meaning was harvest, and it later came to mean a year.

Open 年 →

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

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.

Open 代 →

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

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán远yuǎn
Same sound today

远 combines 辶, meaning walk, with 元, used for its sound.

Open 远 →

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