世界

• Reading: せかい
• Romaji: sekai
• Kanji breakdown: 世 (se/yo) — world, generation; 界 (kai) — boundary, realm
• Pronunciation: /se.ka.i/

Meaning

The world; the globe. Can also refer to a realm, field, or sphere of activity.

Used both literally for the physical world and figuratively for a domain or sphere, such as 音楽の世界 (the world of music). Common in compounds like 世界中 (sekaijuu, all over the world) and 世界一 (sekaiichi, the best in the world). Also appears in philosophical and religious contexts.

Examples

1. 世界にはたくさんの国があります。 There are many countries in the world.
2. 将来、世界中を旅行したいです。 In the future, I want to travel all over the world.
3. この映画は世界で人気があります。 This movie is popular around the world.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, travel, media

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Buddhist Sanskrit loka-dhātu via Chinese 世界 (shìjiè). 世 means generation or age, and 界 means boundary or realm.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal