====== shìjì: 世纪 - Century, Era ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 世纪, shiji, century in Chinese, 21st century in Chinese, a new era, what is a century in Chinese, Chinese word for century, Chinese history, measure word for time
  * **Summary:** Learn how to use 世纪 (shìjì), the essential Chinese word for "century." This comprehensive guide is perfect for beginners, covering its core meaning, character origins, and cultural significance in discussing history and major eras. Through numerous practical example sentences, such as "21st century" (二十一世纪), you'll master how to use 世纪 (shìjì) to talk about time, trends, and epic events in modern Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shìjì
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** A period of one hundred years; a century.
  * **In a Nutshell:** 世纪 (shìjì) is the direct Chinese equivalent of the English word "century." It is a fundamental unit of time used to frame history, discuss long-term changes, and mark significant periods. Beyond its literal meaning of 100 years, it can also be used figuratively to describe something of grand, "once-in-a-century" scale.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **世 (shì):** This character can mean "world," "era," or "generation." It evokes a long span of time and the state of the world within that period.
  * **纪 (jì):** This character is related to "record," "discipline," or a "period of time." The original components suggest threading things together in order, like chronicling historical events.
  * **Together:** 世 (era) + 纪 (record) creates 世纪 (shìjì)—a recorded, defined era of the world, which we translate as a "century."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In China, as in the West, 世纪 is a primary tool for historical periodization. It's impossible to discuss Chinese history without it. Terms like the "20th century" (二十世纪) are used to frame periods of immense social and political upheaval, including revolutions and reforms.
  * The term can carry significant emotional and historical weight. For instance, the "Century of Humiliation" (百年国耻, bǎinián guóchǐ) is a core concept in modern Chinese history, referring to the period from the mid-19th to mid-20th century when China suffered interventions from Western powers and Japan. This shows that a 世纪 is not just a block of time, but can represent a distinct chapter in the national narrative.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** While "century" in English is a fairly neutral time marker, 世纪 in Chinese media and formal speech is more frequently used to add a sense of grandeur or epochal significance. An important infrastructure project might be called a "世纪工程" (project of the century), and a high-profile celebrity wedding a "世纪婚礼" (wedding of the century). This figurative use is more common and less hyperbolic than it might sound in English.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Stating Specific Centuries:** This is the most common usage. The structure is simple: `[Number] + 世纪`.
    * `二十一世纪 (èrshíyī shìjì)` - 21st century
    * `十九世纪 (shíjiǔ shìjì)` - 19th century
  * **Referring to Relative Centuries:**
    * `上个世纪 (shàng ge shìjì)` - Last century
    * `这个世纪 / 本世纪 (zhège shìjì / běn shìjì)` - This century
  * **Describing Decades within a Century:** To specify a decade, you use the structure `[Century] + [Decade Number] + 年代 (niándài)`.
    * `二十世纪八十年代 (èrshí shìjì bāshí niándài)` - The 1980s (the 80s of the 20th century).
  * **Figurative and Exaggerated Usage:** In media, advertising, and formal speeches, 世纪 is used to emphasize the scale and importance of an event, project, or even a problem.
    * `世纪难题 (shìjì nántí)` - A "problem of the century," meaning an extremely difficult problem.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我们生活在二十一**世纪**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen shēnghuó zài èrshíyī **shìjì**.
    * English: We live in the 21st century.
    * Analysis: A straightforward, fundamental sentence pattern for stating the current century.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他是上个**世纪**九十年代出生的。
    * Pinyin: Tā shì shàng ge **shìjì** jiǔshí niándài chūshēng de.
    * English: He was born in the 1990s. (Literally: He was born in the 90s of the last century.)
    * Analysis: This sentence combines `上个世纪` (last century) with `年代` (decade) to specify a time period. This is the standard way to refer to decades in the 20th century.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 环保是本**世纪**最严峻的挑战之一。
    * Pinyin: Huánbǎo shì běn **shìjì** zuì yánjùn de tiǎozhàn zhīyī.
    * English: Environmental protection is one of the most severe challenges of this century.
    * Analysis: `本世纪 (běn shìjì)` is a more formal way of saying `这个世纪 (zhège shìjì)` (this century), common in written Chinese and news.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这座大桥被认为是一项**世纪**工程。
    * Pinyin: Zhè zuò dàqiáo bèi rènwéi shì yí xiàng **shìjì** gōngchéng.
    * English: This bridge is considered a project of the century.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the figurative use of 世纪 to imply grand scale and historic importance.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 在**世纪**之交，互联网开始普及。
    * Pinyin: Zài **shìjì** zhī jiāo, hùliánwǎng kāishǐ pǔjí.
    * English: At the turn of the century, the internet began to become popular.
    * Analysis: The phrase `世纪之交 (shìjì zhī jiāo)` specifically means "the turn of the century" and is a common literary and historical expression.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他们的婚礼被称为“**世纪**婚礼”，吸引了全球媒体的关注。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen de hūnlǐ bèi chēngwéi “**shìjì** hūnlǐ”, xīyǐn le quánqiú méitǐ de guānzhù.
    * English: Their wedding was called the "wedding of the century," attracting global media attention.
    * Analysis: Another example of the common figurative usage in media to describe a major, high-profile event.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 文艺复兴始于14**世纪**的意大利。
    * Pinyin: Wényì fùxīng shǐ yú shísì **shìjì** de Yìdàlì.
    * English: The Renaissance began in 14th-century Italy.
    * Analysis: A typical usage in academic or historical contexts to date major world events.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这是一个跨**世纪**的伟大计划。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge kuà **shìjì** de wěidà jìhuà.
    * English: This is a great plan that spans centuries.
    * Analysis: `跨世纪 (kuà shìjì)` means "cross-century" or "spanning from one century to the next," emphasizing long-term vision.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 和半个**世纪**前相比，我们的生活方便多了。
    * Pinyin: Hé bàn ge **shìjì** qián xiāngbǐ, wǒmen de shēnghuó fāngbiàn duō le.
    * English: Compared to half a century ago, our lives are much more convenient.
    * Analysis: Shows how 世纪 can be used with fractions like `半 (bàn)` for "half." Half a century is 50 years.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 到了20**世纪**初，清朝走向了灭亡。
    * Pinyin: Dào le èrshí **shìjì** chū, Qīngcháo zǒuxiàng le mièwáng.
    * English: By the beginning of the 20th century, the Qing Dynasty was headed for collapse.
    * Analysis: The phrase `世纪初 (shìjìchū)` means "the beginning of the century," a useful term for pinpointing historical periods.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Incorrect Word Order:** A very common mistake for English speakers is putting the number after the noun. Remember, it's always `[Number] + 世纪`.
    * **Correct:** `二十一世纪 (èrshíyī shìjì)`
    * **Incorrect:** `世纪二十一 (shìjì èrshíyī)`
  * **Century vs. Era (时代):** While 世纪 is a fixed 100-year block, `[[时代]] (shídài)` refers to an "era" or "age" defined by its characteristics, not a fixed length. For example, you would say `信息时代 (xìnxī shídài)` (the Information Age), not `信息世纪`. Use 世纪 for the calendar block and 时代 for the thematic period.
  * **Overusing the Figurative Meaning:** While the media loves terms like "project of the century," using it in casual conversation for something mundane (e.g., calling your dinner "the meal of the century") would sound strange and overly dramatic. Reserve the figurative use for things that are genuinely large-scale or significant.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[年代]] (niándài):** Decade. A ten-year period, often used in combination with 世纪 to specify a time, e.g., `80年代 (bāshí niándài)` - the 80s.
  * **[[时代]] (shídài):** Era, age. A more general term for a period defined by its characteristics, like the "digital age" (数码时代). It is less precise than 世纪.
  * **[[世纪末]] (shìjìmò):** The end of the century. A specific term used to refer to the final years or decade of a century.
  * **[[世纪初]] (shìjìchū):** The beginning of the century. The counterpart to 世纪末, referring to the first years or decade.
  * **[[上个世纪]] (shàng ge shìjì):** Last century. A very common colloquial phrase for the 20th century.
  * **[[本世纪]] (běn shìjì):** This century. A slightly more formal term for the current century.
  * **[[千禧年]] (qiānxǐnián):** Millennium. A period of one thousand years.
  * **[[纪元]] (jìyuán):** Era, epoch. Often used in a historical or geological sense, e.g., `公元 (gōngyuán)` means "A.D." or "C.E." (the Common Era).