代

dài

HSK 3.0 5

Rank #174

Definitions

dài (verb) to substitute; to replace; to act on behalf of

dài (noun) generation; era; period; dynasty

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "bull". The meaning later shifted to "prominent" and "special".

About

The character '代' derives from the idea of substitution, constructed from the radical for person '人' and the element '弋', which originally implied a change or shift. Its primary sense of replacing or acting for someone else gradually evolved to refer to successive human generations and extended periods in history, such as dynasties or ages. This semantic development from personal replacement to chronological succession took place without significant alteration to the character's graphical form.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

现代生活很便利。

Xiàndài shēnghuó hěn biànlì.

Modern life is very convenient.

他代表学校参加会议。

Tā dàibiǎo xuéxiào cānjiā huìyì.

He represents the school to attend the meeting.

这是一个新时代。

Zhè shì yī gè xīn shídài.

This is a new era.

古代历史很有趣。

Gǔdài lìshǐ hěn yǒuqù.

Ancient history is very interesting.

我代替他完成工作。

Wǒ dàitì tā wánchéng gōngzuò.

I replace him to complete the work.

成功需要付出代价。

Chénggōng xūyào fùchū dàijià.

Success requires paying a price.

两代人之间常有代沟。

Liǎng dài rén zhī jiān cháng yǒu dàigōu.

There is often a generation gap between two generations.

现代科技正在改变我们的生活方式。

Xiàndài kējì zhèngzài gǎibiàn wǒmen de shēnghuó fāngshì.

Modern technology is changing our way of life.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 弋

Components

亻弋

代