冬ふゆの時じ代だい

expression, noun

dark age; hard times; winter years

Idiomatic expression likening a period of decline, hardship, or stagnation to winter. Often used for historical, economic, or personal slumps.

• バブル崩ほう壊かい後ご、日本にほん経けい済ざいは長ながい冬ふゆの時じ代だいを迎むかえた。

  After the bubble burst, the Japanese economy entered a long winter period.

• この業ぎょう界かいは今いま、冬ふゆの時じ代だいだと言いわれている。

  This industry is said to be in a dark age now.