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.

Kanji

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

Related words

立たち話ばなしN1
世間話 is small talk about everyday topics regardless of posture, whereas 立ち話 emphasizes that the chat happens standing up, often briefly.
おしゃべりN3
世間話 specifically means small talk about everyday topics with neighbors or acquaintances, whereas おしゃべり covers any casual chatting, often among friends.
雑ざつ談だんN1
世間話 refers to everyday small talk with a neighborly, gossipy feel, while 雑談 is a broader term for any casual chat.
日にち常じょう会かい話わN3
世間話 refers to casual gossip or small talk about mundane matters, while 日常会話 is the broader term for all ordinary conversation in daily life.

Built from

世せ間けん+話はなし

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.

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.