Chinese word

古代

Pronunciation

Pinyingǔ dài

Meaning

  • nounancient times

Example

这部电影讲的是古代的故事。zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng de shì gǔ dài de gù shì

This movie tells a story from ancient times.

Illustration for 古代 (ancient times)

More examples

我在博物馆看到了很多古代的文物。wǒ zài bó wù guǎn kàn dào le hěn duō gǔ dài de wén wù

I saw many ancient artifacts at the museum.

Core concept

A far-off stage of human history, especially when early civilizations and societies are taking shape.

Common phrases

  • 古代文明gǔ dài wén míng

    ancient civilization

  • 古代历史gǔ dài lì shǐ

    ancient history

Similar words

以前yǐ qián: A time before a particular point or period.
过去guò qù: Time that has already passed, viewed broadly from the present.
从前cóng qián: A long-ago period, often evoked in stories or memories.

Definition in Chinese

指距今很久的历史时期，通常指文明或社会发展较早的年代。zhǐ jù jīn hěn jiǔ de lì shǐ shí qī tōng cháng zhǐ wén míng huò shè huì fā zhǎn jiào zǎo de nián dài

Word origin

古 (gǔ, "old") + 代 (dài, "period") forms a term for a distant historical age associated with early civilization.

Usage tips

  • English ancient usually describes a thing, while 古代 (gǔdài, "ancient times") can stand as the name of the historical period itself.

Opposites

Related words

  • 古代人gǔ dài rénancient peoplenoun
  • 古代史gǔ dài shǐancient historynoun

Word lists with this word