新しん世せ界かい

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ん

せ

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Common word

Meanings

noun

New World; the Americas; Australasia

Historical/geographical term for the Western Hemisphere, especially the Americas, and sometimes Australasia. Often contrasted with 旧世界 (the Old World).

Usage patterns

新しん世せ界かいを発はっ見けんするto discover the New World
コロンブスは新しん世せ界かいを発はっ見けんしたと言いわれている。
Columbus is said to have discovered the New World.
新しん世せ界かいに足あしを踏ふみ入いれるto step into a new world
彼かれは音おん楽がくという新しん世せ界かいに足あしを踏ふみ入いれた。
He stepped into the new world of music.
新しん世せ界かいが広ひろがるa new world opens up (before someone)
留りゅう学がくを終おえて、彼かの女じょの前まえには新しん世せ界かいが広ひろがっていた。
After finishing her studies abroad, a whole new world opened up before her.

Kanji

新new
世generation, world, society
界world, boundary

Related words

新しん大たい陸りくN2sense 1
新大陸 specifically means 'the New Continent' (i.e. the Americas) in a geographical/historical sense, while 新世界 can also cover Australasia and carries a broader cultural connotation.
新しん天てん地ち sense 2
新天地 is the common word for a fresh start or new place in life (e.g. a new job or home), while 新世界 in this metaphorical sense sounds grander, often implying a whole new era or society.

Opposites

旧きゅう世せ界かい sense 1
新世界 refers to the Americas (and sometimes Australasia) as historically 'new' to Europeans, while 旧世界 refers to Europe, Asia, and Africa as the long-known 'old' world.

Etymology

Compound of 新 (new) and 世界 (world). The specific sense 'New World' is a calque from Western languages, entering Japanese during the age of exploration.