Korean Dictionary
How to say "Era" in Korean
“Era” in Korean is 시대 (pronounced "sidae").
시대
sidae
Usage & Context
The word for era, a long period of time with distinctive characteristics. This is commonly used in history and cultural references.
Example Sentence
조선 시대는 길었어요.
The Joseon era was long.
How to use 시대 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Era” is 시대, romanized as sidae.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 시대.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'shi-dae' — 'shi' like 'she' cut short, and 'dae' rhymes with 'day' but with a slightly more open 'eh' sound. Keep both syllables smooth and connected.
More Example Sentences
Reminiscing with old friends
고등학생 시대가 제일 그리워요.
I miss my high school era the most.
Discussing technology trends
AI 시대에 살고 있어요.
We're living in the AI era.
Talking about K-culture's global rise
한류 시대가 본격적으로 시작됐어요.
The Hallyu (Korean Wave) era has truly begun.
Cultural Context
시대 is the standard word for 'era' or 'period' and appears constantly in Korean history class — 조선 시대 (Joseon era), 고려 시대 (Goryeo era), 삼국 시대 (Three Kingdoms era). It also gets used metaphorically for life stages (학창 시대 = school days) and trends (모바일 시대 = the mobile age). Compare with 시기 (a more specific period) and 세대 (generation, for people).
Editorial note
We review entries like 시대 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
좋은 시대에 태어났어요.
I was born in a good era.
시대가 변했어요.
Times have changed.
시대에 뒤떨어지지 마세요.
Don't fall behind the times.
Related Expressions
시기
sigi
period / phase (more specific)
세대
sedae
generation (of people)
학창 시대
hakchang sidae
school days / student era
신시대
sinsidae
new era
More Numbers and Time Words
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