世
generation, world, society, public
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
- セ
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- よ
Nanori
- とし
- ゆ
- ゆき
Meaning
世 centers on the span of human life and the shared space people inhabit across time: a generation, the world, society, and the public realm.
Most common words using 世
24 of 601- 世界せかいN5
the world; society; the universe
- 世代せだいN2
generation
- 世紀せいきN3
century
- 世よN1
world; society; public
- 世の中よのなかN3
society; the world; the times
- 世界中せかいじゅうN4
around the world; throughout the world
- 世間せけんN3
world; society; people; the public
- 中世ちゅうせいN2
Middle Ages (in Japan esp. the Kamakura and Muromachi periods); medieval times; mediaeval times
- 世界一せかいいち
best in the world
- 世帯せたいN1
household; family
- 世話せわN4
care; looking after; help; assistance; aid
- 出世しゅっせN2
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
- 世論よろんN1
public opinion; popular voice; public sentiment; consensus
- 後世こうせい
posterity; future generations; future life
- 救世主きゅうせいしゅ
saviour; savior; messiah
- あの世あのよN1
the other world; the next world; the world beyond; world after death
- 世襲せしゅう
heredity; heritage
- 浮世絵うきよえ
ukiyo-e; ukiyoe; Edo-period woodblock print
- 近世きんせいN1
recent past; recent times
- 世相せそうN1
social conditions; phase of life; (sign of) the times; state of society
- 世話人せわにん
sponsor; manager; caretaker
- 一世いっせい
generation; lifetime
- 世界銀行せかいぎんこう
World Bank
- 世界的せかいてきN3
worldwide; global; international; universal
Study
Etymology
世 is traditionally explained as a derivative of 卅 (thirty), representing a thirty-year span as one generation. The modern form retains the basic stroke layout of three tens joined.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape looks like three tens (十十十) linked together, suggesting a span of thirty years—one generation. From one generation comes the wider world and society.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, imagine a generation saying 'say' to pass wisdom to the next: say -> セイ, as one generation speaks to the world.