古 代(こだい)

こだい

noun, no-adjective

ancient times; antiquity

time-general

1. ancient times; antiquity

A period of history from the distant past, typically before the medieval period.

古代(こだい)ギリシャの文明(ぶんめい)

Ancient Greek civilization

古代(こだい)の遺跡(いせき)を発掘(はっくつ)する。

To excavate ancient ruins.

古代(こだい)日本(にほん)の歴史(れきし)を学(まな)ぶ。

To study the history of ancient Japan.

古代(こだい) refers to the earliest period of recorded history. In Japanese historiography, it typically covers the period up to around the 12th century (before the 鎌倉(かまくら)時代(じだい)).

Japanese historical periods

古代(こだい): ancient (up to ~12th century)
中世(ちゅうせい): medieval (~12th-16th century)
近世(きんせい): early modern (~16th-19th century)
近代(きんだい): modern (Meiji onwards)
現代(げんだい): contemporary

Common collocations

古代(こだい)文明(ぶんめい): ancient civilization
古代(こだい)遺跡(いせき): ancient ruins
古代(こだい)史(し): ancient history
古代(こだい)ギリシャ: ancient Greece
古代(こだい)エジプト: ancient Egypt

Usage

Also functions as a no-adjective: 古代(こだい)の人々(ひとびと) (ancient people).

Related Words

Related: 中世(ちゅうせい) (medieval)

Related: 近世(きんせい) (early modern)

Related: 近代(きんだい) (modern)

Antonym: 現代(げんだい) (contemporary)

Compare: 昔(むかし) (old times, long ago)

Related: 考古学(こうこがく) (archaeology)

Related: 先史(せんし) (prehistory)

Compare: 原始時代(げんしじだい) (primitive era)

Compare: 先史(せんし)時代(じだい) (prehistoric era)

general

Added 2026.1.16 14:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

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