---
title: "Dangdai Meaning: 当代 (dāngdài) Means “present age”"
description: "当代 (traditional 當代, dāngdài) means “present age; contemporary”. Hear its tones, see what 当 and 代 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangdai"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 当代 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

当代 dāngdài

## present age; contemporary

## Its characters

1. 当 dāng to act as
2. 代 dài generation

## In a sentence

中国的当代青年文化很空洞。 Contemporary Chinese youth culture is very shallow.

[More about 当代](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BD%93%E4%BB%A3)

## More words with 当 or 代

- [不当 bùdàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/budang)
- [代表 dàibiǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daibiao)
- [代价 dàijià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daijia)
- [代理 dàilǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daili)
- [代理人 dàilǐrén](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dailiren)
- [代替 dàitì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daiti)
- [代言 dàiyán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daiyan)
- [担当 dāndāng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dandang)
- [当场 dāngchǎng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangchang)
- [当成 dàngchéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangcheng)

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