世紀

• Reading: せいき
• Romaji: seiki
• Kanji breakdown: 世 (sei/se/yo) — world, generation; 紀 (ki) — chronicle, record
• Pronunciation: /se.i.ki/

Meaning

Century. A period of one hundred years.

A noun used to count centuries: 21世紀 (nijuuisseiki, the 21st century). Also appears in dramatic or emphatic expressions: 世紀の発見 (seiki no hakken, discovery of the century), 世紀末 (seikimatsu, end of the century/fin de siècle). Carries a grand, historical tone.

Examples

1. 私たちは21世紀に生きている。 We are living in the 21st century.
2. あの映画は世紀の名作と呼ばれている。 That movie is called a masterpiece of the century.
3. 20世紀には科学技術が大きく発展した。 Science and technology advanced significantly in the 20th century.

Usage Guide

Context: history, science, media

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Compound of 世 (sei, world/generation) and 紀 (ki, chronicle/record). Together they denote a major division of recorded history spanning a hundred years.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal