📜 Chinese Periods & Eras Vocabulary 时期·时代·先后

66 essential Mandarin Chinese words for the Periods & Eras scene, each with pinyin, English meaning, HSK level and native speaker audio, plus example sentences. Tap 🔊 to listen.

过去 guò qù HSK 2
the past · also: to pass by (v.)
过去的事就别想了。guò qù de shì jiù bié xiǎng leDon't dwell on the things in the past.
以后 yǐ hòu HSK 2
after; later; afterwards; in the future
以后我想当老师。yǐ hòu wǒ xiǎng dāng lǎo shīIn the future I want to be a teacher.
当时 dāng shí HSK 2
at the time (when it happened); back then
当时我还是个孩子。dāng shí wǒ hái shì ge hái ziAt that time I was still a child.
以前 yǐ qián HSK 2
before; formerly; ago
以前我住在北京。yǐ qián wǒ zhù zài běi jīngI used to live in Beijing.
今后 jīn hòu HSK 2
hereafter; from now on; in the future
今后我要好好学习。jīn hòu wǒ yào hǎo hāo xué xíFrom now on I will study hard.
时代 shí dài HSK 3
era; age; times
我们生活在一个新时代。wǒ men shēng huó zài yí ge xīn shí dàiWe live in a new era.
期 qī HSK 3
period; issue (of a publication)
这期杂志很有意思。zhè qī zá zhì hěn yǒu yì siThis issue of the magazine is very interesting.
初 chū HSK 3
at first; beginning; early
他是三月初来的北京。tā shì sān yuè chū lái de běi jīngHe came to Beijing at the beginning of March.
现代 xiàn dài HSK 3
modern times; modern; contemporary
现代生活的节奏越来越快。xiàn dài shēng huó de jié zòu yuè lái yuè kuàiThe pace of modern life is getting faster and faster.
将来 jiāng lái HSK 3
future; in the future
你将来想做什么工作？nǐ jiāng lái xiǎng zuò shén me gōng zuòWhat kind of job do you want to do in the future?
目前 mù qián HSK 3
at present; currently
目前我还没有工作。mù qián wǒ hái méi yǒu gōng zuòAt present I don't have a job yet.
当初 dāng chū HSK 3
at that time; originally; in the first place
当初我们并不认识。dāng chū wǒ men bìng bú rèn shiAt that time we didn't know each other.
长期 cháng qī HSK 3
long term; long time; long range
他长期住在国外。tā cháng qī zhù zài guó wàiHe has lived abroad for a long time.
从前 cóng qián HSK 3
previously; formerly; once upon a time
这里从前是一片森林。zhè lǐ cóng qián shì yí piàn sēn línThis place used to be a forest.
短期 duǎn qī HSK 3
short term; short-term
他参加了一个短期汉语班。tā cān jiā le yí ge duǎn qī hàn yǔ bānHe took a short-term Chinese class.
古代 gǔ dài HSK 3
ancient times; antiquity
古代的人是怎么生活的？gǔ dài de rén shì zěn me shēng huó deHow did people in ancient times live?
前后 qián hòu HSK 3
around; from beginning to end; front and back
他前后来了三次。tā qián hòu lái le sān cìHe came three times in all.
近期 jìn qī HSK 3
in the near future; recently
近期我们会推出新产品。jìn qī wǒ men huì tuī chū xīn chǎn pǐnWe will launch a new product in the near future.
之后 zhī hòu HSK 4
after; afterwards; later
下课之后我们去吃饭。xià kè zhī hòu wǒ men qù chī fànAfter class, we'll go eat.
期间 qī jiān HSK 4
period of time; duration
放假期间我去旅行了。fàng jià qī jiān wǒ qù lǚ xíng leI went traveling during the holidays.
阶段 jiē duàn HSK 4
stage; phase; period
这个项目已经到了最后阶段。zhè ge xiàng mù yǐ jīng dào le zuì hòu jiē duànThis project has already reached its final stage.
未来 wèi lái HSK 4
future; the future; coming
我对未来充满希望。wǒ duì wèi lái chōng mǎn xī wàngI am full of hope for the future.
如今 rú jīn HSK 4
nowadays; now; these days
如今很多人用手机付款。rú jīn hěn duō rén yòng shǒu jī fù kuǎnNowadays many people pay with their phones.
末 mò HSK 4
end; tip; final stage; last part
这个项目要到月末才完成。zhè ge xiàng mù yào dào yuè mò cái wán chéngThis project won't be finished until the end of the month.
最初 zuì chū HSK 4
at first; initially; the very beginning
我最初并不喜欢这份工作。wǒ zuì chū bìng bù xǐ huan zhè fèn gōng zuòAt first I didn't like this job at all.
期限 qī xiàn HSK 4
time limit; deadline; allotted time
报名的期限是这个月底。bào míng de qī xiàn shì zhè ge yuè dǐThe deadline for registration is the end of this month.
延期 yán qī HSK 4
to postpone; to extend the deadline
由于下雨，比赛延期了。yóu yú xià yǔ bǐ sài yán qī leDue to the rain, the match was postponed.
近代 jìn dài HSK 4
modern times; the recent modern era
这座博物馆展出近代的历史文物。zhè zuò bó wù guǎn zhǎn chū jìn dài de lì shǐ wén wùThis museum exhibits historical relics from modern times.
当年 dāng nián HSK 5
in those days; back then
当年这里还是一片农田。dāng nián zhè lǐ hái shì yí piàn nóng tiánBack then, this place was still farmland.
以往 yǐ wǎng HSK 5
in the past; previously; formerly
今年的收入比以往都多。jīn nián de shōu rù bǐ yǐ wǎng dōu duōThis year's income is more than in any past year.
当前 dāng qián HSK 5
current; present; at present
当前最重要的任务是提高质量。dāng qián zuì zhòng yào de rèn wù shì tí gāo zhì liàngThe most important task at present is to improve quality.
早期 zǎo qī HSK 5
early period; early stage; early phase
这种病在早期比较容易治好。zhè zhǒng bìng zài zǎo qī bǐ jiào róng yì zhì hǎoThis disease is relatively easy to cure in its early stage.
此后 cǐ hòu HSK 5
after this; afterwards; hereafter
他大学毕业后就出国了，此后杳无音信tā dà xué bì yè hòu jiù chū guó le cǐ hòu yǎo wú yīn xìnHe went abroad after graduating from university, and there was no news of him afterwards.
先前 xiān qián HSK 5
before; previously; earlier
他先前说过这件事。tā xiān qián shuō guò zhè jiàn shìHe mentioned this matter before.
周期 zhōu qī HSK 5
period; cycle
月亮的运行有固定的周期。yuè liang de yùn xíng yǒu gù dìng de zhōu qīThe moon's movement has a fixed cycle.
当代 dāng dài HSK 5
the present era; contemporary
他是当代最有影响力的作家之一。tā shì dāng dài zuì yǒu yǐng xiǎng lì de zuò jiā zhī yīHe is one of the most influential writers of the contemporary era.
初期 chū qī HSK 5
initial stage; early period
初期的困难都被我们克服了。chū qī de kùn nan dōu bèi wǒ men kè fú leWe overcame all the initial difficulties.
为期 wéi qī HSK 5
(to last) for a period of; by (a certain date)
这次培训为期一个月。zhè cì péi xùn wéi qī yí gè yuèThis training lasts for one month.
过后 guò hòu HSK 6
afterwards; later; after (the event)
这件事过后我们再商量。zhè jiàn shì guò hòu wǒ men zài shāng liangLet's discuss it after this matter is over.
时期 shí qī HSK 6
period; phase; era
青春是人生最美好的时期。qīng chūn shì rén shēng zuì měi hǎo de shí qīYouth is the most beautiful period of one's life.
本期 běn qī HSK 6
this issue; the current period/term
本期杂志介绍了几位年轻画家。běn qī zá zhì jiè shào le jǐ wèi nián qīng huà jiāThis issue of the magazine introduced several young painters.
截止 jié zhǐ HSK 6
to end; to close (by a deadline)
报名将于本周五截止。bào míng jiāng yú běn zhōu wǔ jié zhǐRegistration will close this Friday.
截至 jié zhì HSK 6
up to (a certain time); by (a time)
截至目前，报名人数已超过一千。jié zhì mù qián bào míng rén shù yǐ chāo guò yì qiānAs of now, the number of registrants has exceeded a thousand.
事后 shì hòu HSK 6
after the event; afterwards; in hindsight
事后他才意识到自己错了。shì hòu tā cái yì shí dào zì jǐ cuò leOnly afterwards did he realize he was wrong.
同期 tóng qī HSK 6
the same period; corresponding period
今年的销量比去年同期增长了一成。jīn nián de xiāo liàng bǐ qù nián tóng qī zēng zhǎng le yì chéngThis year's sales grew ten percent over the same period last year.
往年 wǎng nián HSK 6
in former years; in previous years
今年的冬天比往年冷得多。jīn nián de dōng tiān bǐ wǎng nián lěng de duōThis winter is much colder than in previous years.
中期 zhōng qī HSK 6
middle period; medium-term
这项计划到了中期阶段。zhè xiàng jì huà dào le zhōng qī jiē duànThis plan has reached its mid-term stage.
此前 cǐ qián HSK 6
before this; previously
此前我们从未见过面。cǐ qián wǒ men cóng wèi jiàn guò miànBefore this, we had never met.
到期 dào qī HSK 6
to fall due; to expire
我的签证下个月就要到期了。wǒ de qiān zhèng xià ge yuè jiù yào dào qī leMy visa is going to expire next month.
年代 nián dài HSK 3
decade; era; period
这首歌是八十年代很流行的zhè shǒu gē shì bā shí nián dài hěn liú xíng deThis song was very popular in the eighties.
世纪 shì jì HSK 3
century
这座桥有半个世纪了。zhè zuò qiáo yǒu bàn ge shì jì leThis bridge is half a century old.
公元 gōng yuán HSK 4
Common Era (CE); AD
长城建于公元前两百多年。cháng chéng jiàn yú gōng yuán qián liǎng bǎi duō niánThe Great Wall was built more than two hundred years BCE.
王 wáng HSK 4
king; surname Wang
王老师今天没来上课。wáng lǎo shī jīn tiān méi lái shàng kèTeacher Wang didn't come to class today.
公主 gōng zhǔ HSK 6
princess
小女孩梦想着成为一位公主。xiǎo nǚ hái mèng xiǎng zhe chéng wéi yí wèi gōng zhǔThe little girl dreams of becoming a princess.
国王 guó wáng HSK 6
king
从前有一位英明的国王。cóng qián yǒu yí wèi yīng míng de guó wángOnce upon a time there was a wise king.
王子 wáng zǐ HSK 6
prince
童话里的王子救了公主。tóng huà lǐ de wáng zǐ jiù le gōng zhǔThe prince in the fairy tale saved the princess.
皇帝 huáng dì HSK 6
emperor
古代的皇帝拥有至高无上的权力。gǔ dài de huáng dì yōng yǒu zhì gāo wú shàng de quán lìEmperors in ancient times held supreme power.
将军 jiāng jūn HSK 6
general (military rank)
这位老将军打过很多场仗。zhè wèi lǎo jiāng jūn dǎ guo hěn duō chǎng zhàngThis old general has fought in many battles.
王后 wáng hòu HSK 6
queen (king's wife)
美丽的王后坐在国王身旁。měi lì de wáng hòu zuò zài guó wáng shēn pángThe beautiful queen sat beside the king.
历史 lì shǐ HSK 4
history
我对中国历史很感兴趣。wǒ duì zhōng guó lì shǐ hěn gǎn xìng qùI'm very interested in Chinese history.
古 gǔ HSK 3
ancient; old; (surname Gu)
这座古城很有名。zhè zuò gǔ chéng hěn yǒu míngThis ancient city is very famous.
原始 yuán shǐ HSK 5
original; primitive; primeval
这里保留着原始的森林。zhè lǐ bǎo liú zhe yuán shǐ de sēn línA primeval forest is preserved here.
古老 gǔ lǎo HSK 5
ancient; age-old
这是一座古老的城市。zhè shì yí zuò gǔ lǎo de chéng shìThis is an ancient city.
以来 yǐ lái HSK 3
since (a point in time)
毕业以来我一直在工作bì yè yǐ lái wǒ yì zhí zài gōng zuòI've been working ever since I graduated.
代 dài HSK 3
to substitute; on behalf of; generation
请你代我向大家问好qǐng nǐ dài wǒ xiàng dà jiā wèn hǎoPlease say hello to everyone on my behalf.
之前 zhī qián HSK 4
before; previously; ago
我们之前见过一次面。wǒ men zhī qián jiàn guo yí cì miànWe met once before.

FAQ

How many Chinese periods & eras words are in this list?

66 words, including HSK 2: 5, HSK 3: 18, HSK 4: 14, HSK 5: 12, HSK 6: 17. Every word has playable native audio and example sentences.

Are these words useful for the HSK?

Yes — every word is tagged with its HSK level (HSK 1–6 or 7+), so you can prioritise words for your target level.

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