Meaning of 现代
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- modern times
- modern age
- modern era
- Hyundai, South Korean company
How to use 现代
现代 works as a noun for the modern era and often sits right before another noun like an adjective, as in 现代社会 (modern society) or 现代艺术 (modern art). Example: 这是一座很现代的城市。 (Zhè shì yí zuò hěn xiàndài de chéngshì.) This is a very modern city.
现 (xiàn) means present or appear, as in 现在 (xiànzài, now), and 代 (dài) means generation or era. Put them together and you get the era that is present now: modern times.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 现代 (xiàndài) and 现在 (xiànzài). 现在 means right now, while 现代 means the modern age, so do not say 现代我很忙 when you mean 现在我很忙.
现代 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
现 xiàn · to appear · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 7
- 8
代 dài · to be a substitute for · 5 strokes
- 1
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- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 现代.
| 现在 | xiànzài | now; at present; currently |
| 发现 | fāxiàn | to notice; to become aware of; to discover; to find; to detect |
| 出现 | chūxiàn | to appear; to arise; to emerge; to show up |
| 实现 | shíxiàn | to achieve; to implement; to realize; to bring about |
| 代表 | dàibiǎo | representative; delegate |
| 表现 | biǎoxiàn | to show; to show off |
| 现场 | xiànchǎng | the scene (of a crime, accident etc); (on) the spot |
| 时代 | shídài | age; era |
| 现实 | xiànshí | reality; actuality; real; actual |
| 年代 | niándài | a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties); age |
| 现金 | xiànjīn | cash |
| 现象 | xiànxiàng | phenomenon; appearance |
Questions about 现代
What does 现代 mean?
现代 (xiàndài) means "modern times; modern age" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 现代?
现代 is made of 2 characters: 现 (8 strokes), 代 (5 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 现代 an HSK word?
Yes. 现代 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 现代 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 现代 is written 現代.
What is the difference between 现代 and 近代?
In Chinese history writing, 近代 (jìndài) usually refers to the earlier modern period, roughly from the mid 1800s to 1919. 现代 refers to the more recent period after that, up to today.
Is 现代 the name of the car brand Hyundai?
Yes. The South Korean company Hyundai is called 现代 (Xiàndài) in Chinese, so 现代汽车 means Hyundai Motor. Context tells you whether someone means the brand or modern times.