代 dài — substitute; replace; generation; dynasty; geological era; era
请你代我向他问好。Qǐng nǐ dài wǒ xiàng tā wèn hǎo.Please send him my regards on my behalf.
Common words: 代表 (dài biǎo)、时代 (shí dài)、年代 (nián dài)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "generation"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "generation", including 代 (dài), 世 (shì), 辈 (bèi). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "generation" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 代 (dài), 世 (shì), 辈 (bèi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span dài, shì, bèi — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 代 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 代 dàisubstitute; replace; generation; dynasty; geological era; eraUseful words: 代表, 时代
- 世 shìlife; age; generation; era; world; lifetimeUseful words: 世界, 世纪
- 辈 bèicontemporaries; generation; lifetimeUseful words: 一辈子, 长辈
Common words for these 3 "generation" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 代 (dài) — so "generation" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
代表dài biǎorepresentative; delegate; to represent; to stand for时代shí dàiage; era; epoch; period (in one's life)年代nián dàia decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties); age; era; period世界shì jièworld世纪shì jìcentury去世qù shìto pass away; to die一辈子yī bèi zi(for) a lifetime长辈zhǎng bèione's elders; older generation前辈qián bèisenior; older generation; precursor
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "generation".
世 shì — life; age; generation; era; world; lifetime
这是世界上最高的山。Zhè shì shì jiè shàng zuì gāo de shān.This is the tallest mountain in the world.
Common words: 世界 (shì jiè)、世纪 (shì jì)、去世 (qù shì)
辈 bèi — contemporaries; generation; lifetime
我们要尊敬长辈，关心晚辈。Wǒ men yào zūn jìng zhǎng bèi, guān xīn wǎn bèi.We should respect our elders and care for the younger generation.
Common words: 一辈子 (yī bèi zi)、长辈 (zhǎng bèi)、前辈 (qián bèi)
All 3 characters
Open 代、世、辈 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.