社会的

• Reading: しゃかいてき
• Romaji: shakaiteki
• Kanji breakdown: 社 (sha) — company, society; 会 (kai) — meeting, association; 的 (teki) — suffix indicating adjectival quality
• Pronunciation: /ɕa.ka.i.te.ki/

Meaning

Social; societal. Relating to society or the relationships and structures within it.

A na-adjective formed by adding 的 (teki) to 社会 (shakai, 'society'). It is used broadly in academic, journalistic, and everyday discourse. Phrases like 社会的地位 (social status), 社会的責任 (social responsibility), and 社会的影響 (social impact) are especially common.

Examples

1. 企業には社会的責任を果たす義務がある。 Corporations have an obligation to fulfill their social responsibilities.
2. 彼の発言は社会的に大きな影響を与えた。 His remarks had a significant social impact.
3. 社会的地位よりも内面の豊かさを重視すべきだ。 We should value inner richness over social status.

Usage Guide

Context: academia, journalism, business, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A Meiji-era coinage combining 社会 (shakai, from Classical Chinese 社會 meaning 'gathering of people/community') and the suffix 的 (teki), used to form adjectives from nouns, modelled on Western '-al' and '-ic' suffixes.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji period onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal