世
generation · world · society · public
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Three tens for thirty years. One generation.
Symbolism
Generation, world, society. Represents era and society.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
永世中立
えいせいちゅうりつ
permanent neutrality
曲学阿世
きょくがくあせい
prostitution of learning; twisting the truth and truckling to the times
三千世界
さんぜんせかい
the whole universe (of a billion worlds) that Buddha enlightened; the whole wide world
万世一系
ばんせいいっけい
unbroken imperial line
万世不易
ばんせいふえき
eternity; perpetuity
一世一代
いっせいちだい
once in a lifetime; the first and last occurrence (event, experience) of one's lifetime
隔世遺伝
かくせいいでん
atavism; throwback; reappearance of an earlier characteristic
立身出世
りっしんしゅっせ
success in life
世代交代
せだいこうたい
alternation of generations; heterogenesis; change of generations
経世済民
けいせいさいみん
governing a nation and providing relief to people
生々世々
しょうじょうせぜ
eternity; forever; through all eternity
現世利益
げんせりやく
benefits gained in this world through observance of the Buddhist teachings; happiness gained in this world through observance of the Buddhist teachings
一世風靡
いっせいふうび
ruling the times; holding sway over the minds of the people
世態人情
せたいにんじょう
(contemporary) customs and behavior; the picture of people's life in the contemporary world
世道人心
せどうじんしん
(public) morals and sentiments
時世時節
ときよじせつ
times and situations; the course of events of the times; a turn of Fortune's wheel
抜山蓋世
ばつざんがいせい
great strength and energy (of a mighty hero); Herculean strength and vitality
一世一元
いっせいいちげん
the practice of assigning one era name to one emperor
Proverbs & Idioms
世の中は三日見ぬ間の桜かな
よのなかはみっかみぬまのさくらかな
The world is like cherry blossoms unseen for three days
Things change quickly in this world
Poetry
わが庵は 都のたつみ しかぞすむ 世をうぢ山と 人はいふなり
My hut lies southeast of the capital and here I live content, yet people call it Mount Uji, the hill of gloom.
花の色は うつりにけりな いたづらに わが身世にふる ながめせしまに
The colour of the blossoms has faded, all for nothing, while I gazed at the long rains and my own beauty passed.
難波潟 みじかき葦の ふしの間も あはでこの世を 過ぐしてよとや
Short as the space between joints of reeds in Naniwa marsh — must I pass this whole life without even that much of you?
あらざらむ この世のほかの 思ひ出に 今ひとたびの 逢ふこともがな
Soon I will be gone. So that I may carry one memory beyond this world, let me meet you once more.
心にも あらでうき世に ながらへば 恋しかるべき 夜半の月かな
If against my will I linger on in this wretched world, I shall surely long for tonight's midnight moon.
世の中よ 道こそなけれ 思ひ入る 山の奥にも 鹿ぞ鳴くなる
There is no road out of this world. Even deep in the mountains where I fled, a stag is crying.
ながらへば またこのごろや しのばれむ 憂しと見し世ぞ 今は恋しき
If I live on, will I look back fondly even on these days? The times I thought unbearable I now miss.
世の中は つねにもがもな 渚こぐ あまの小舟の 綱手かなしも
If only the world could stay as it is. The tow-rope of a fisherman's small boat along the shore moves me so.
おほけなく うき世の民に おほふかな わが立つ杣に すみぞめの袖
Presumptuous as it is, I would shelter the people of this sad world beneath my ink-black sleeves, here on the mountain where I have taken my stand.
人もをし 人も恨めし あぢきなく 世を思ふゆゑに 物思ふ身は
I find people dear, and I resent them, because I think this world a bitter, pointless place and brood on it.
Anime & Manga
Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
A well-known work with 世 in its Japanese title.
この素晴らしい世界に祝福を！
KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world!
A well-known work with 世 in its Japanese title.
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A well-known work with 世 in its Japanese title.
無職転生 ～異世界行ったら本気だす～
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
A well-known work with 世 in its Japanese title.
無職転生Ⅱ ～異世界行ったら本気だす～
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2
A well-known work with 世 in its Japanese title.
Games
異世界転生もの各種
Isekai Genre Games(2010)
Developer: Various
Core character of the 'isekai' genre. Many RPGs and visual novels about reincarnation to another world.
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
レオニダス1世
Name contains 世
Leonidas I was Greek king of the Ancient Greek city-state of Sparta.
Wikipediaアンティオコス3世
Name contains 世
Antiochus III the Great was the sixth ruler of the Seleucid Empire, reigning from 223 BC to 187 BC.
Wikipediaアゲシラオス2世
Name contains 世
Agesilaus II was king of Sparta from c. 400 to c.
Wikipediaエウメネス2世
Name contains 世
Eumenes II Soter was king of the Hellenistic kingdom of Pergamon from 197 BC to 159 BC.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“generation”
“world”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 世 mean in Japanese?
世 means generation, world, society, public.
How do you read 世?
On'yomi: セイ、セ、ソウ (SEI, SE, SOU). Kun'yomi: よ (yo).
How many strokes does 世 have?
世 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 一 (one).
Is 世 a good kanji for a tattoo?
世 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means generation, world, society, public. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:generation · world · public