当代(とうだい)

とうだい
noun
the present age; current generation; current head (of a family or school)
formaltime-generalculture
1. the present age; current era; nowadays
The current period or era, used to talk about what is happening in the present time.
当代(とうだい)随一(ずいいち)の名人(めいじん)だ。
He is the foremost master of our time.
当代(とうだい)きっての実力者(じつりょくしゃ)と言(い)われている。
He is said to be the most powerful figure of the present age.
当代(とうだい)の若者(わかもの)はスマートフォンなしでは生活(せいかつ)できないと言(い)われる。
It is said that young people of the current generation cannot live without smartphones.
2. current head; present master (of a family, school, or lineage)
The person who currently holds the position of head in a family line, traditional art school, or similar hereditary succession.
当代(とうだい)の家元(いえもと)は十五代目(じゅうごだいめ)だ。
The current head of the school is the fifteenth generation.
当代(とうだい)の主人(しゅじん)が店(みせ)を継(つ)いだ。
The current master took over the shop.
当代(とうだい)の当主(とうしゅ)は先代(せんだい)の息子(むすこ)で、伝統(でんとう)を大切(たいせつ)に守(まも)っている。
The current family head is the son of the previous head and carefully preserves the traditions.

Has two distinct uses: referring to the current era (often in literary or formal expressions praising someone as the best of their time) and referring to the person currently heading a lineage or tradition.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 現代(げんだい): modern times / the present day — the most common word for the current era
  • 先代(せんだい): previous generation / predecessor — the person who held the position before the current one
  • 次代(じだい): next generation — the upcoming successor
  • 今(いま)の時代(じだい): the current age — everyday equivalent of 当代(とうだい) in sense 1

Register

Formal/literary. 当代(とうだい)随一(ずいいち) and 当代(とうだい)きっての are particularly common set phrases used as high praise.

Related Words

Compare: 現代(げんだい) (modern times / the present day)
Compare: 先代(せんだい) (previous generation / predecessor)
general
Added 2026.4.6 5:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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