世せ間けん話ばなし

せ

け

ん

ば

な

し

Meanings

1

noun

small talk; chat; gossip

Casual conversation about everyday topics, often with neighbors, acquaintances, or colleagues. Can carry a light gossipy tone depending on context.

近きん所じょの人ひとと世せ間けん話ばなしをするのが好すきだ。
I like making small talk with the neighbors.

会かい

議ぎ

の

前まえ

に

少すこ

し

世せ

間けん

話ばなし

を

し

た

。

We chatted a bit before the meeting.

Written forms

世せ間けん話ばなし
Standard kanji spelling; common in news and everyday writing.
世せ間けんばなし
Mixed kana spelling sometimes used for readability or casual style.

Kanji

世generation, world, society
間interval, space
話tale, talk

Similar words

雑ざつ談だん
雑談 is a more general term for idle chat or chit-chat, while 世間話 specifically implies talk about everyday life and social matters, often with a hint of gossip.
うわさ話ばなし
うわさ話 focuses on rumors or hearsay about others, whereas 世間話 is broader, covering light conversation that may or may not involve gossip.

Etymology

Compound of 世間 (seken, 'society, the world of people') and 話 (hanashi, 'talk, story'), with rendaku voicing to -banashi. The word refers to talk about everyday social matters.