英语中的年代、世纪和年份

XXX0 年代指 XXX0 年 - XXX9 年的连续 10 年，例如 1760 年代指 1760 年至 1769 年这连续 10 年。

XX 世纪 X0 年代指 XX 世纪 X0 - X9 的连续 10 年，例如 18 世纪 60 年代指 18 世纪 60 - 69 的连续 10 年，等同于 1760 年代，即 1760 年至 1769 年这连续 10 年。

1. Century (世纪)

A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. The word century comes from the Latin centum, meaning one hundred. Century is sometimes abbreviated as c.
一个世纪代表一百年，通常是指连续的一百年。

century /'sentʃʊrɪ/ n. 世纪，百年；(板球) 一百分

1.1. Start and end of centuries

Although a century can mean any arbitrary period of 100 years, there are two viewpoints on the nature of standard centuries. One is based on strict construction, while the other is based on popular perception.

perception /pəˈsepʃn/ n. 感知 (能力)；觉察 (力)，认识，观念，看法

Strict vs Popular usage:

According to the strict construction, the 1st century AD, which began with AD 1, ended with AD 100, and the 2nd century with AD 200; in this model, the $n$-th century starts with a year that follows a year with a multiple of 100 (except the first century as it began after the year 1 BC) and ends with the next coming year with a multiple of 100 (100n), i.e. the 20th century comprises the years 1901 to 2000, and the 21st century comprises the years 2001 to 2100 in strict usage.

In common perception and practice, centuries are structured by grouping years based on sharing the ‘hundreds’ digit(s). In this model, the $n$-th century starts with the year that ends in “00” and ends with the year ending in “99”; for example, in popular culture, the years 1900 to 1999 constitute the 20th century, and the years 2000 to 2099 constitute the 21st century. (This is similar to the grouping of “0-to-9 decades” which share the ‘tens’ digit.)

2. Decade (年代)

decade /ˈdekeɪd/ n. 十年，十年期；十

A decade is a period of 10 years. Decades may describe any 10-year period, such as those of a person’s life, or refer to specific groupings of calendar years.
年代，也称为十年纪，1 个年代一般为连续的 10 年。

如果某一年能被 10 整除，那么当年及此后 9 年共 10 年称为 1 个年代，即 XXX0 年到 XXX9 年为一个年代。

2.1. Usage

Usage methods compared:

• 0-to-9 decade

The most widely used method for denominating decades is to group years based on their shared tens digit, from a year ending in a 0 to a year ending in a 9 - for example, the period from 1960 to 1969 is the 1960s, and the period from 1970 to 1979 is the 1970s.
最广泛使用的年代命名方法是根据年份的共同十位数字分组，从以 0 结尾的年份到以 9 结尾的年分为一组。例如，从 1960 年到 1969 年的时期是 1960 年代，而时期从 1970 年到 1979 年是 1970 年代。

• 1-to-0 decade

A rarer approach groups years from the beginning of the AD calendar era to produce successive decades from a year ending in a 1 to a year ending in a 0, with the years 1-10 described as “the 1st decade”, years 11-20 “the 2nd decade”, and so on.
一种更罕见的方法是将公元历纪元开始的年份分组，以产生从以 1 结尾的年份到以 0 结尾的年份的连续年代，其中 1-10 年被描述为“第一个年代”，11-20 年为“第二个年代”，以此类推，保证了每个年代均为 10 年。

3. 英语中的年代和世纪

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/chinese/features/q-and-a/ep-210120

BBC Learning English was founded decades ago in the 1940s. We’ve been teaching English to people around the world for more than half a century.
BBC 英语教学成立于 20 世纪 40 年代。半个多世纪以来，我们一直为世界各地的人教英语。

• 特定的年代 (decade)

the + 某年代初始年 + s：某年代

如果想用英语表示一个具体的年代，需要在该年代的初始年后加上小写字母 s，前面加定冠词 the。例如 1970 年代写作 the 1970s，读作 the nineteen-seventies，表示 20 世纪 70 年代。

the 1980s (the nineteen-eighties)
20 世纪 80 年代，1980 年到 1989 年的这十年的时间。

the 1800s (the eighteen hundreds)
19 世纪，1800 年至 1899 年的这一百年的时间。
19 世纪头十年，1800 年到 1809 年的这十年的时间。

the 1960s (the nineteen-sixties)
20 世纪 60 年代，1960 年到 1969 年的这十年的时间。

a decade 十年

A decade later, the company has gone from strength to strength.
十年后，该公司已经逐渐壮大。

in a decade's time 在十年的时间里
in the next decade 未来十年
decade-long 十年之久的

My uncle was born in the 1960s (the nineteen-sixties).
我叔叔出生于 20 世纪 60 年代。

It’s said that the poet wrote this poem in the 1820s, but the exact year is unknown.
据说诗人在 19 世纪 20 年代写了这首诗，但具体年份不详。

I can’t believe you haven’t heard of her! She was the most popular singer in the 80s.
我不敢相信你没听说过她！她是 80 年代最受欢迎的歌手。

• 特定的世纪 (century)

the + 某世纪的序数词 + century：某世纪

对于特定的某世纪，在表示这个世纪的序数词后面加上名词 century，这个序数词前也要加定冠词 the。例如 the 21st centurcy 表示 21 世纪。

a century 一个世纪，一百年

The countries have been at peace for more than a century.
这些国家和平共处已有一个多世纪。

five centuries ago 五个世纪前
half a century 半个世纪

Battery charging systems remain basically the same as those in use half a century ago.
电池充电系统和半个世纪前基本上没什么区别。

at the turn of the century 在世纪交替之际，在世纪之交

Her family came to Los Angeles at the turn of the century.
她的祖先在世纪之交时来到洛杉矶。

the 21st century 21 世纪

The telephone was invented in the 19th century.
电话是 19 世纪发明的。

Buckingham /ˈbʌkɪŋəm/ Palace /ˈpæləs/ was built at the beginning of the 18th century.
白金汉宫建于 18 世纪初。

the 1800s (the eighteen hundreds) 通常指整个 19 世纪，也可以表示 19 世纪的头十年。
the 1900s (the nineteen hundreds) 通常指整个 20 世纪，也可以表示 20 世纪的头十年。
the 2000s (the two thousands) 通常指整个 21 世纪，也可以表示 21 世纪的头十年。

4. 公元纪年 (公历纪元)

Before Christ (BC, B.C.)：公元前 (公元元年以前的时间)，主前 (基督诞生之前)
Before the Common Era (BCE)：公元前 (公元元年以前的时间)

Anno Domini (AD, A.D.)：公元 (主的生年)，主后 (基督出生之后)
Common Era (CE)：公元 (公历纪元，西历纪元)

Christ /kraɪst/
n. 基督；救世主
int. 天啊！
era /ˈɪərə/
n. 时代；年代；纪元；代

表示公元前的年份，在数词后加 BC，不加则默认为公元 (后) AD。

3000 BC - three thousand BC (公元前 3000 年)
3250 BC - thirty-two fifty BC (公元前 3250 年)
2000 BC - two thousand BC (公元前 2000 年)
531 BC - five hundred and thirty-one BC / five thirty-one BC (公元前 531 年)
221 AD - two hundred and twenty-one AD / two twenty-one AD (公元 221 年)
公元 839 年 - eight hundred and thirty-nine AD / eight thirty-nine AD

5. 英语中年份的读法

5.1. 四位数年份的读法

1. 一般分为两部分来读，后两位为第一部分，其余的为第二部分，每一组的数字都按基数词来读。

1256 - twelve fifty-six
1835 - eighteen thirty-five
1891 - eighteen ninety-one
1865 - eighteen sixty-five
1919 - nineteen nineteen
1944 - nineteen forty-four
1949 - nineteen forty-nine
1998 - nineteen ninety-eight
1999 - nineteen ninety-nine

2014 - twenty fourteen / two thousand fourteen
2019 - twenty-nineteen / two thousand and nineteen

2101 - twenty-one O one / twenty-one zero one

2. 后两位为 01 - 09 时，0 要读出来，读成 O /əʊ/ 或者 zero。

1806 - eighteen O six / eighteen zero six
1006 - ten O six / ten zero six
1503 - fifteen O three / fifteen zero three
1705 - seventeen O five / seventeen zero five
1907 - nineteen O seven / nineteen zero seven
1908 - nineteen O eight / nineteen zero eight
1809 - eighteen O nine / eighteen zero nine
1901 - nineteen O one / nineteen zero one

3. 后两位为 00 时，00 读成 hundred。

1100 - eleven hundred
1500 - fifteen hundred
1600 - sixteen hundred
1800 - eighteen hundred
1900 - nineteen hundred
2100 - twenty-one hundred

4. 后三位为 000 时，000 读成 thousand。

1000 - one thousand
2000 - two thousand

5. 2001 - 2099 的一般读法为 two thousand and + 后两位。

2001 - two thousand and one
2003 - two thousand and three
2008 - two thousand and eight
2009 - two thousand and nine
2020 - two thousand and twenty / twenty twenty
2099 - two thousand and ninety-nine / twenty ninety-nine

6. 2010 - 2099 也可以按照一分为二来读。

2010 - twenty ten / two thousand and ten
2015 - twenty fifteen / two thousand and fifteen
2018 - twenty eighteen / two thousand and eighteen
2020 - twenty twenty / two thousand and twenty
2022 - twenty twenty-two / two thousand and twenty-two
2099 - twenty ninety-nine / two thousand and ninety-nine

7. 2001 - 2009 不可以按照一分为二来读。

2001 - two thousand and one
2008 - two thousand and eight
2009 - two thousand and nine

5.2. 三位数年份的读法

1. 一般分为两部分来读，后两位为第一部分，其余的为第二部分。

201 - two O one / two zero one / two hundred and one
528 - five twenty-eight / five hundred and twenty-eight
879 - eight seventy-nine / eight hundred and seventy-nine
999 - nine ninety-nine / nine hundred and ninety-nine

2. 三位数的年份比较简单，也可以将三位数的年份按照纯数字来读。

222 - two twenty-two / two hundred and twenty-two
568 - five sixty-eight / five hundred and sixty-eight
866 - eight sixty-six / eight hundred and sixty-six

3. 后两位为 00 时，00 读成 hundred。

200 - two hundred
400 - four hundred
900 - nine hundred

5.3. 两位和一位数年份的读法

1. 两位和一位数的年份按照纯数字来读。

99 - ninety-nine
50 - fifty
25 - twenty-five
8 - eight

2. 可以在数字前加 the year，以避免误解

the year 350 - the year three hundren and fifty / the year three fifty
the year 405 - the year four hundren and five / the year four O five / the year four zero five
the year 14 - the year fourteen

6. Homework

1. 我们公司是主要的电子产品生产商和出口商。

Our company is a major producer and exporter of electronic products.
Our firm is a major /ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ manufacturer and exporter /ɪkˈsp ɔ:tə/ of electronic products.

major /ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/
adj. 主要的；主修的；重要的；较多的
n. 成年人；主修科目；陆军少校
vi. 主修
manufacture /ˌmænjuˈfæktʃə(r)/
vt. 制造，捏造
n. 制造，制造品，产品

2. 它是护肤品和护发品的主要生产商之一。

It is one of the main producers of skin care and hair care products.
It is one of the leading manufacturers of skin care and hair care products.

hair care /heə(r) keə(r)/ 护发
skin care /skɪn keə(r)/ 皮肤护理；皮肤养护

3. 我们专门从事化学产品的进出口。

We specialize in the import and export of chemical products.

specialize /ˈspeʃəlaɪz/
vi. 专门从事；详细说明；特化
vt. 使专门化；使适应特殊情况；详细说明
chemical /ˈkemɪkl/
n. 化学制品，化学药品
adj. 化学的
specialize in v. 专攻；专门研究

Many students specialize in engineering.
许多学生专攻工程学。

4. 我们公司成立于 20 世纪 90 年代初。

Our company was founded in the early 1990s.

found /faʊnd/
vt. 创立，建立；创办
v. 找到 (find 的过去分词)

5. 你认为谁是你们最大的竞争对手？

Who do you think is your biggest competitor?

competitor /kəmˈpetɪtə(r)/ n. 竞争者，对手，敌手

6. 贵公司的产品有何特色？

What are the features of your company’s products?
What are the characteristics of your company’s products?

characteristic /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/
n. 特征；特点；品质
adj. 典型的；独特的；特有的

7. 我们提供与其同等质量的产品，但价格更优惠。

We offer the same quality products as them, but at a better price.

the same as 与…一样；与…一致；与…相似

My new job is much the same as the old one.
我的新工作和旧工作差不多。

I’d like one the same as yours.
我要一个和你一样的。

8. 我们公司去年引进了新技术，并开始生产新产品。我们的技术水平始终与最新的技术保持一致。

Our company introduced new technology last year and started producing new products. Our technological level is always consistent with the latest technology.
Our company introduced new technology last year and started to produce new products. Our technical level is always in line with the latest technology.

technology /tekˈnɒlədʒi/ n. 技术；科技；工艺；工程技术；工艺学；技术学；技术性机器 (或设备)

consistent /kənˈsɪstənt/
adj. 一贯的，始终如一的，一致的，符合的

be consistent with something
与某事物并存，与某事物一致
in line with something
与…相似，与…处于同等水平
We try to keep our prices in line with our competitors.

start /stɑːt/
vt. 开始；启动
vi. 出发
n. 开始；起点

start + -ing verb
They started building the house in January.
start + to infinitive
I'd just started to write a letter when the phone rang.

9. 产品远销英国、美国、日本、意大利和东南亚，深受消费者欢迎。

The products are exported to the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Italy and Southeast Asia, and are very popular among consumers.

be exported to
某物被出口到…
be imported from
某物进口自…

10. 让我们的商品走向世界。

Let our products go to the world.
Let our goods go to the world.

goods /ɡʊdz/
n. 商品，货物，个人财物

References

[1] Yongqiang Cheng, https://yongqiang.blog.csdn.net/