1.
vintage item; antique; aged item of value
An object that has aged over many years and is valued for its age, history, or craftsmanship. Can refer to wine, furniture, instruments, and other collectibles.
年代物のワインを開ける。
To open a vintage wine.
このピアノは年代物で、百年以上の歴史がある。
This piano is a vintage piece with over a hundred years of history.
祖父の蔵から年代物の日本酒が見つかった。
An aged sake was found in my grandfather's storehouse.
2.
something old and worn; dated item
Used humorously or self-deprecatingly to describe something that is simply old, outdated, or showing its age.
うちのテレビは年代物だ。
Our TV is a relic.
この車はかなりの年代物だけど、まだ走る。
This car is pretty old, but it still runs.
年代物のパソコンをだましだまし使っている。
I'm coaxing along an ancient computer, making it work somehow.
Composed of 年代 (era/age) + 物 (thing). The word has a dual character: it can express admiration for something's age and provenance (sense 1), or it can be used with gentle humor about something that is simply old and outdated (sense 2). Context and tone determine which reading applies.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 年代物のワイン: vintage wine
- 年代物の家具: antique furniture
- かなりの年代物: quite old / quite a vintage piece
- 年代物の時計: vintage watch
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 骨董品: antique — specifically collected as art or curio
- ヴィンテージ: vintage — loanword, used mainly for wine and fashion
- 古物: old article — more neutral, used in legal/commercial contexts