Japanese word

年代

Pronunciation

Romajinendai

Meaning

  • nounera

Example

この年代の文化を学びます。ko no nen dai no bun ka o mana bi ma su

I study the culture of this era.

Illustration for 年代 (era)

More examples

年代によって、使われる言葉が変わります。nen dai ni yo tte tsuka wa re ru koto ba ga ka wa ri ma su

The words people use change depending on the era.

Core concept

Describes a span of years or the people classified by the years of their birth.

Common phrases

  • 年代によってnen dai ni yo tte

    depending on the era

  • 年代を調べるnen dai o shira be ru

    research the era

  • 年代を特定するnen dai o toku tei su ru

    identify the era

  • 年代をまたぐnen dai o ma ta gu

    span eras

Similar words

時代jidai: A period of history with its own social and cultural character.
世代sedai: A group of people born during roughly the same period.
時期jiki: A limited period connected with an event, activity, or condition.

Definition in Japanese

年を単位として区分した時期や、その時期に対応する世代の年齢層。toshi o tan i to shi te ku bun shi ta ji ki ya so no ji ki ni tai ō su ru se dai no nen rei sō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 年代 (nendai) joins 年 (nen, "year") with 代 (dai, "period" or "generation") to express a period measured by years or a generation.

Usage tips

  • The word 年代 (nendai) often appears with a number to name a decade, while it can also describe an age group, a distinction that depends on the surrounding context.

Other meanings

  • age groupnoun
  • decadenoun

Related words

  • 年代別nendaibetsuby eranoun

Word lists with this word