世せい

counter

counter for generations

Used with numbers to count generations, reigns, or dynasties. Often seen in historical or family contexts.

• この家いえは三さん世せ代だい同どう居きょしている。

  Three generations live together in this house.

• 徳とく川がわ十じゅう五ご世せい将しょう軍ぐんは慶よし喜のぶである。

  The 15th Tokugawa shogun was Yoshinobu.

noun, used as a suffix

epoch

Geological suffix for naming epochs, such as 更新世 (Pleistocene). Not used as a standalone word for 'epoch'.

• 更こう新しん世せいは氷ひょう河が時じ代だいとも呼よばれる。

  The Pleistocene is also called the Ice Age.