Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

後世 (ごせ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

後ご世せ

ご

せ

Meanings

1

noun

the next world; afterlife; life after death

Buddhism

Buddhist term referring to the world after death, where one is reborn according to karma.

仏ぶっ教きょうでは、後ご世せの安あん楽らくを願ねがって供く養ようを行おこなう。
In Buddhism, memorial services are held to pray for peace in the next world.

Kanji

後behind, back, later
世generation, world, society

Similar words

来らい世せ
来世 also means 'the next world' or 'afterlife' and is used in both Buddhist and general contexts, while 後世 is more specifically Buddhist.
あの世よ
あの世 is a common, non-technical term for 'the other world' or 'the afterlife', used in everyday speech and folk beliefs, whereas 後世 is a formal Buddhist term.

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 後世 (MC huwH syejH), literally 'later world'. The term was adopted into Japanese Buddhist vocabulary to refer to the world after death.