Korean word

근대

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeundae

Meaning

  • nounmodern era

Example

수업에서 근대 역사에 대해 배웠어요.su eo be seo keun dae yeok ssa e tae hae pae wo sseo yo

We learned about the history of the modern era in class.

Illustration for 근대 (modern era)

More examples

그 도시는 근대 사회가 되었다.keu to si neun keun dae sa hoe ga toe eot tta

The city developed into a modern society.

Core concept

A historical period when industrialization and the rise of centralized nation-states begin to reshape society, the economy, and culture.

Common phrases

  • 근대 역사keun dae yeok ssa

    modern history

  • 근대 사회keun dae sa hoe

    modern society

  • 근대 문학keun dae mun hak

    modern literature

Definition in Korean

근대는 산업화와 중앙집권적 근대국가의 형성으로 사회·경제·문화 구조가 크게 바뀌기 시작한 시대를 뜻한다.keun dae neun sa neo pwa wa chung ang jip kkwon jeok keun dae guk kka ui hyeong seong eu ro sa hoe kyeong je mun hwa ku jo ga keu ge pa kkwi gi si ja kan si dae reul tteu tan da

Word origin

The word combines Sino-Korean elements for near and age, linking its basic meaning to a historical period of major modern social change.

Usage tips

  • In Korean history writing, this usually names a historical period rather than simply meaning something contemporary, so modern era is a safer reading than modern in everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • Swiss chardnoun

Opposites

  • 고대kodaeancient timesnoun
  • 전근대cheongeundaepremodern eranoun

Related words

  • 근대화keundaehwamodernizationnoun
  • 근대적keundaejeokmodernadjective
  • 근대성keundaeseongmodernitynoun

Word lists with this word