The word 时代 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core concept to create a new, unified meaning. The first character, 时 (shí), fundamentally represents "time", "season", or "moment". The second, 代 (dài), carries the meaning of "to substitute", "to represent", or, by extension, a "generation" or "succession". When fused, these concepts blend to express the idea of a distinct and defining period within the flow of time, an "age" or "epoch", where one set of conditions or characteristics succeeds and represents a specific stretch of history, such as "the digital age" (数字时代) or "a new era" (新时代).