近代

The Chinese word 近代 (jìndài) is composed of two characters: 近 (jìn), meaning "near" or "recent", and 代 (dài), meaning "generation" or "era". Together, they literally mean "recent generation" or "recent era".The term 近代 is used in Chinese to refer to the modern era, specifically the period from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. This period is characterized by significant changes in Chinese society, politics, and culture, including the rise of Western influence, the decline of the Qing dynasty, and the establishment of the Republic of China.The term 近代 is often contrasted with the term 古代 (gǔdài), which refers to ancient times, and with the term 现代 (xiàndài), which refers to the present era.