世紀|せいきseiki[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. nouncentury
    彼かれは19世紀せいきに生うまれた。↗
    He was born in the 19th century.
  2. nounera
  3. no-adjectiveof the century (e.g. fight of the century)
Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymセンチュリーNeutralA loanword meaning century or 100 years, mostly seen in names; in everyday speech, 「世紀」 is what you say.
  • Related時代じだいNeutralA historical period defined by a shared feature, e.g. 「江戸時代」, of any length; 「世紀」 is fixed at 100 years and also has the hyperbolic pattern 「世紀の〜」.
  • Related年代ねんだいNeutralA period measured in units such as decades, e.g. 「1980年代」; it can also mean a year or date. 「世紀」 works in 100-year units.

Use 「世紀」 for periods measured in 100-year units, and for hyperbole like 「世紀の大発見」. For periods divided by number of years use 「年代」; for those defined by a characteristic, use 「時代」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 西暦せいれきを百ひゃく年ねんごと区切くぎったもの。x 世紀せいきは 100 (x − 1) + 1 年ねんから 100 x 年ねんまでである。
  2. 長期ちょうきに渡わたる年月としつき。スケールが大おおきい様さま。
  3. 一いち世紀せいきに一度いちどあるか分わからないような出来事できごと、重大じゅうだいな事柄ことがらであるさま。
  4. ある事柄ことがらが大おおきく発展はってんしたり、象徴しょうちょうとなったりする時代じだい。
  5. 世代せだいの記録きろく。歴史れきし。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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