shìjì: 世纪 - Century, Era

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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).