世間体

• 読み: せけんてい
• ローマ字: sekentei
• 漢字の分解: 世 (se/yo) — world, generation; 間 (ken/ma) — between, society; 体 (tei/karada) — body, form, appearance
• 発音: /se.keɴ.teː/

意味

Public appearances; social reputation; face; how one is perceived by society.

A culturally significant concept in Japan reflecting the importance of maintaining a respectable image in the eyes of one's community. 世間体を気にする (worrying about public appearances) is a common behavioural driver. The concept is related to 恥 (shame culture) and contrasted with more individualistic Western values. Often appears in family and social discussions.

例文

1. 世間体を気にして、本音を言えない人が多い。
2. 彼女は世間体のために不幸な結婚を続けていた。
3. 親は世間体を優先して、子どもの意志を無視した。

使い方ガイド

場面: social norms, family dynamics, Japanese culture

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Compound of 世間 (the public, society) and 体 (form, appearance, body). Together they evoke 'the form one presents to the world.' Deeply embedded in Japanese social psychology, the concept reflects collectivist pressure to conform to community expectations.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional–Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal