世せい故こ

also: せこ

せ

い

こ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

worldly affairs; the ways of the world

Refers to practical knowledge of society, its customs, and the complexities of human relationships. Often used in contexts discussing experience or sophistication in dealing with people.

彼かれは世せ故こに長たけている。
He is well-versed in the ways of the world.
世せ故こに疎うとい若わか者もの。
A young person who is naive about worldly affairs.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Kanji

世generation, world, society
故happenstance, especially, intentionally

Related words

世せ間けん
世間 refers to society or the public in a broader sense, while 世故 specifically emphasizes the practical, sometimes cynical, understanding of social affairs.
世せ事じ
世事 also means worldly affairs but is more commonly used in modern Japanese; 世故 is slightly more literary and less frequent.

Written forms

世故Usage100%
- せこ
  Standard kanji form; the reading せこ is more common than せいこ.
- せいこ
  Alternate reading; less common than せこ.
せこ

Etymology

Composed of 世 (world, society) and 故 (reason, circumstances). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys the idea of the circumstances and affairs of the world.