1.
one hundred years; a century
A duration of 100 years. Used both literally for measured time and figuratively for 'a very long time' in set expressions.
この店は創業百年だ。
This shop has been in business for one hundred years.
百年に一度の大雨が降った。
Rain that only falls once in a century fell.
百年前には想像もできなかった技術が今は当たり前になっている。
Technology that was unimaginable a hundred years ago is now taken for granted.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 百年前: a hundred years ago
- 百年後: a hundred years from now
- 百年に一度: once in a century
- 創業百年: founded a hundred years ago
IDIOMS:
- 百年の恋も冷める: even a hundred-year love cools — used when one moment destroys a long-built feeling
- 百年早い: a hundred years too early — dismissive: 'you're nowhere near ready'