Meaning and Usage
"时代" (shídài) refers to a specific historical period or era. It is commonly used to describe broad spans of time characterized by particular social, cultural, or technological features.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "时代" in contexts discussing history, culture, or social change, such as "信息时代" (information age) or "工业时代" (industrial era).
Collocations and Patterns
- 信息时代: the information age, highlighting the era dominated by information technology.
- 时代变迁: changes of the era, used to discuss historical or social transitions.
- 时代精神: the spirit of the times, referring to the prevailing attitudes or ideas of a period.
Usage Notes
"时代" is a noun and usually appears with a modifier or as part of a compound noun. It differs from "时间" (time) which is more general and can refer to clock time or duration. "时代" emphasizes a historical or cultural period rather than a moment or length of time.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "时代" with "时间". Use "时代" when referring to historical or cultural periods, and "时间" when referring to specific times or durations.