Japanese word

時代

Pronunciation

Romajijidai

Meaning

  • nounera

Example

その時代には車がありませんでした。so no ji dai ni wa kuruma ga a ri ma se n de shi ta

There were no cars in that era.

Illustration for 時代 (era)

More examples

その時代の音楽を聞くと、昔の生活が想像できます。so no ji dai no on gaku o ki ku to mukashi no sei katsu ga sō zō de ki ma su

Listening to music from that era helps us imagine life in the past.

Core concept

Views time as a bounded phase in history or a person's life, with conditions that distinguish it from other phases.

Common phrases

  • 時代の変化ji dai no hen ka

    changes in the times

  • 時代が変わるji dai ga ka wa ru

    times change

  • 時代に合わせるji dai ni a wa se ru

    adapt to the times

  • 時代を代表するji dai o dai hyō su ru

    represent an era

Similar words

時期jiki: A particular period in which something happens or develops.
年代nendai: A period described by the years it covers, especially a group of ten years.

Definition in Japanese

時の流れを区切って捉えた、歴史上または人生上のひとまとまりの期間。toki no naga re o ku gi tte tora e ta reki shi jō ma ta wa jin sei jō no hi to ma to ma ri no ki kan

Word origin

The word uses the readings 時 (ji, "time") and 代 (dai, "generation"), whose meanings together suggest a time span associated with a generation.

Usage tips

  • The label 江戸時代 (Edo jidai) shows that 時代 (jidai) can follow a name to identify a historical era.

Other meanings

  • agenoun
  • periodnoun

Related words

  • 時代的jidaitekiera-specificna-adjective
  • 時代性jidaiseithe spirit of the timesnoun

Word lists with this word