Usage note
古代表示很久以前的时代。
gǔ dài biǎo shì hěn jiǔ yǐ qián de shí dài。
古代 means very ancient times.
Context note
古代常用于历史、文化和研究。
gǔ dài cháng yòng yú lì shǐ 、 wén huà hé yán jiū。
It is often used with history, culture, and research.
5 examples
古代人怎么生活？
gǔ dài rén zěn me shēng huó？
How did ancient people live?
老师讲了古代历史。
lǎo shī jiǎng le gǔ dài lì shǐ。
The teacher talked about ancient history.
古代有很多发明。
gǔ dài yǒu hěn duō fā míng。
There were many inventions in ancient times.
这件文物来自古代。
zhè jiàn wén wù lái zì gǔ dài。
This artifact comes from ancient times.
古代的故事很有趣。
gǔ dài de gù shì hěn yǒu qù。
Ancient stories are very interesting.
5 mini stories
他们在书里了解古代。
tā men zài shū lǐ liǎo jiě gǔ dài。
They learned about ancient times in the book.
老师展示了古代图片。
lǎo shī zhǎn shì le gǔ dài tú piàn。
The teacher showed pictures of ancient times.
古代人也会种地。
gǔ dài rén yě huì zhòng dì。
Ancient people also farmed.
这个博物馆里有很多古代物品。
zhè ge bó wù guǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō gǔ dài wù pǐn。
This museum has many ancient objects.
她喜欢听古代故事。
tā xǐ huan tīng gǔ dài gù shì。
She likes listening to ancient stories.
Mini dialogue
古代故事
A
你喜欢古代的故事吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān gǔdài de gùshì ma?
Do you like stories from ancient times?
B
喜欢，古代的故事很有意思。
Xǐhuān, gǔdài de gùshì hěn yǒuyìsi.
Yes, stories from ancient times are very interesting.
古代建筑
A
这些古代的建筑真漂亮。
Zhèxiē gǔdài de jiànzhù zhēn piàoliang.
These ancient buildings are really beautiful.
B
是啊，古代的人很聪明。
Shì a, gǔdài de rén hěn cōngmíng.
Yes, people in ancient times were very smart.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
现代
xiàn dài
modern times
古代 means ancient, 现代 means modern
similar
远古
yuǎn gǔ
remote antiquity
远古 is even older, like prehistoric