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现代 (xiàn dài) — modern times; the modern era; modern; contemporary

Definition

Refers to the modern era (esp. 20th century onward) and modern/contemporary things. Differs from 近代 (the 1840s–1919 period in Chinese history) and 当代 (the present age).

modern timesthe modern eramoderncontemporary

Examples

  • 现代，。
    Zài xiàn dài, rén men de shēng huó yuè lái yuè hǎo.
    In modern times, people's lives are getting better and better.
  • 现代。
    Zhè shì xiàn dài chéng shì de yí gè dì fāng.
    This is a place in a modern city.
  • 现代。
    Tā chuān zhuó xiàn dài yī fu.
    He is wearing modern clothes.

Origin

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.

现xiànpresent
代dàiera

现 (present) and 代 (era) give the modern times.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

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 →
Appears in
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