年代

• Reading: ねんだい
• Romaji: nendai
• Kanji breakdown: 年 (nen/toshi) — year; 代 (dai/yo) — generation, era
• Pronunciation: /neɴ.da.i/

Meaning

Age; era; period; date. A decade or historical period defined by years.

A noun used to refer to decades (1990年代, the 1990s), age groups (同年代, same generation), or historical periods. Versatile in both casual and formal contexts. Common expressions: 年代順 (nendai-jun, chronological order), 年代物 (nendai-mono, antique/vintage item).

Examples

1. 1980年代の音楽が好きです。 I like music from the 1980s.
2. 彼とは同じ年代だから話が合う。 Since he and I are the same generation, we get along well.
3. この建物は年代物で歴史的な価値がある。 This building is a vintage piece with historical value.

Usage Guide

Context: history, culture, daily conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 年 (nen, year) and 代 (dai, generation/era). The combination naturally expresses a span of years or a generational period.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal