世纪
Traditional: 世紀
shì jì HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

这是二十一世纪。
Zhè shì èrshíyī shìjì.
This is the 21st century.
上个世纪有很多变化。
Shàng gè shìjì yǒu hěnduō biànhuà.
There were many changes in the last century.
这个世纪科技发展很快。
Zhège shìjì kējì fāzhǎn hěn kuài.
Technology has developed rapidly this century.
这是新世纪的开始。
Zhè shì xīn shìjì de kāishǐ.
This is the start of a new century.
上个世纪很特别。
Shàng gè shìjì hěn tèbié.
The last century was very special.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 世 as 'world' and 纪 as 'record'—together, they 'record the world' over 100 years. Associate it with major century events, like the 20th century's technological advances, to reinforce its meaning.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and used in both spoken and written Chinese, though it is more common in formal or historical contexts. It often appears in discussions about history, science, culture, or future projections, such as in news articles, academic texts, or everyday conversations about time periods.

📖 Grammar Points

世纪 is typically used with ordinal numbers (e.g., 第一世纪 for 'first century') or with specific centuries like 二十世纪 (20th century). It can be modified by adjectives, as in 漫长的世纪 (long century), and is often followed by 的 in phrases like 十九世纪的文学 (19th-century literature).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 世纪 is often used in historical and futuristic discussions, such as referencing China's 'century of humiliation' (百年国耻) or the 'Chinese Dream' for the 21st century. It carries a sense of long-term progress or reflection.

🔄 Similar Words

年代 (niándài) means 'decade' or a specific period within a century, often less precise than 世纪. 时代 (shídài) refers to an 'era' or 'age,' which can be broader and not strictly 100 years, such as the digital age. 世纪 is more specific to 100-year intervals.

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