世
Meanings
Only when written 世
Refers to the human world or society at large, often in expressions like 世に知られる and 世の中.
There are many different ways of thinking in society.
His invention soon became known to the public.
Mostly found in set or literary-sounding expressions such as 世を去る, meaning to leave this life or pass away; not the usual everyday word for one's life, which is 人生 or 生活.
He passed away at a young age.
age; era; period; generation
Used for a historical age or social period; the 代 spelling with reading よ is possible but much less common than 世 in ordinary learner-facing contexts.
The age of the samurai ended, and the Meiji era began.
Historical or elevated use for the period of someone's rule, especially in phrases like 徳川の世 or 王の世.
When Tokugawa rule ended, the structure of the country also changed greatly.
the times; the age we live in
Only when written 世
Refers rhetorically to the current state or trend of the times, as in 世はまさに....
The times are truly an age of digitalization.
world of existence
Only when written 世
Buddhist use for the world of existence, often with a nuance of the deluded or suffering world from which one seeks liberation.
In Buddhism, leaving the world of deluded existence is regarded as an ideal.
Usage patterns
- 世に出るto come out into the world; to make one's debut
He made his debut in the world at a young age.
- 世を去るto pass away; to leave this life
My grandfather quietly passed away last year.
- 〈人〉の世the age/era of a particular ruler or family
The age of the Tokugawa lasted 260 years.
- 世を治めるto rule the realm; to govern the age
The king had long ruled over this country's era.
- 世が変わるthe times change; the age shifts
The times changed, and people's values changed with them.
- 世を捨てるto renounce the world; to abandon worldly life
He became a monk and renounced the world.