# 世界
## Chinese
### Etymology

Coined by Buddhist translators (c. 3rd century) to translate Sanskrit लोकधातु (lokadhātu, “world”). In its original Buddhist sense, the word encompassed a range of spatial meanings from a 小世界 (xiǎo shìjiè, “minor world”) with a single sun and moon to the billion-world 三千大千世界 (sānqiān-dàqiān-shìjiè, “trichiliocosm”). Its modern sense dates from Japanese 世界(せ​かい) (se​kai) re-adaptation of the word in the nineteenth century and it has since largely displaced the classical 天下 (tiānxià, “all-under-Heaven”) in general usage.

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): shìjiè
       (Zhuyin): ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): шыҗе (šɨži͡ə, III-III)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sai$^3$ gaai$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): sai$^1$ gai$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): sṳ-kie / sṳ-kiai
    (Hailu, HRS): she$^ˇ$ gai$^ˇ$
* Eastern Min (BUC): sié-gái
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): se$^4$ gai$^4$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): sè-kài / sì-kài
    (Teochew, Peng'im): si$^3$ gai$^3$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^1$sy$_5$-ka; $^5$sy-ka / $^3$syu$_5$-ka$_5$ / $^5$sy-ka$_5$
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): shr$^4$ gai$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shìjiè → shìjie (toneless final syllable variant)
*** Zhuyin: ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ → ㄕˋ ˙ㄐㄧㄝ (toneless final syllable variant)
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shìhjie̊
*** Wade–Giles: shih$^4$-chieh$^5$
*** Yale: shr̀-jye
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyh.jieh
*** Palladius: шицзе (šicze)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/ → /ʂʐ̩⁵¹ d͡ʑ̥i̯ɛ¹/
*** Homophones: [Show/Hide]$^{edit}$世界 事界 視界 / 视界
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: шыҗе (šɨži͡ə, III-III)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂʐ̩⁴⁴ t͡ɕiə⁴⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sai$^3$ gaai$^3$
*** Yale: sai gaai
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sai$^3$ gaai$^3$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sei$^3$ gai$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: sai$^1$ gai$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /sai³³ kai³³/
* Hakka
** (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ-kie
*** Hakka Romanization System: sii gie
*** Hagfa Pinyim: si$^4$ gie$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /sɨ⁵⁵ ki̯e⁵⁵/
** (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ-kiai
*** Hakka Romanization System: sii giai
*** Hagfa Pinyim: si$^4$ giai$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /sɨ⁵⁵ ki̯ai̯⁵⁵/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: she$^ˇ$ gai$^ˇ$
*** Sinological IPA: /ʃe¹¹ kai¹¹/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: sié-gái
*** Sinological IPA : /sie²¹³⁻⁵³ $^{(k-)}$ɑi²¹³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: se$^4$ gai$^4$ [Phonetic: se$^1$ ai$^4$]
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: sa̤̍-ga̍i
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬe⁴²⁻⁵⁵ $^{(k-)}$ai⁴²/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Wanhua, Kaohsiung, Hsinchu, Taichung, Wuqi, Tainan, Taitung, Lukang, Magong, Yilan, Kinmen, Jinjiang, Philippines, Penang, Singapore)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sè-kài
*** Tâi-lô: sè-kài
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sea'kaix
*** IPA (Singapore): /se²¹⁻⁴² kai²¹/
*** IPA (Penang): /se²¹⁻³³ kai²¹/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /se²¹⁻⁴¹ kai²¹/
*** IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines): /se⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kai⁴¹/
*** IPA (Kinmen): /se¹²⁻⁵³ kai¹²/
*** IPA (Lukang): /se³¹⁻⁵³ kai³¹/
*** IPA (Taipei): /se¹¹⁻⁵³ kai¹¹/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Tainan, Yilan): /se²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/
** (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sì-kài
*** Tâi-lô: sì-kài
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sie'kaix
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /si²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: si$^3$ gai$^3$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sì kài
*** Sinological IPA : /si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kai²¹³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^1$sy$_5$-ka; $^5$sy-ka
*** MiniDict: sy$^去$ ka; sy$^去$ ka
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$sr$_2$-ka; $^2$sr-ka
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /sz̩⁵⁵ ka²¹/, /sz̩³³ ka⁴⁴/
** (Northern: Suzhou)
*** Wugniu: $^3$syu$_5$-ka$_5$
*** MiniDict: syu$^去$ ka$^去$
*** Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /sz̩ʷ⁵² kɑ¹¹/
** (Northern: Haining)
*** Wugniu: $^5$sy-ka$_5$
*** Sinological IPA (Haining): /sz̩³³ ka⁵³/
* Xiang
** (Changsha)
*** Wiktionary: shr$^4$ gai$^4$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /ʂʐ̩⁴⁵ kai̯⁴⁵/
*** Sinological IPA (new-style): /sz̩⁴⁵ kai̯⁴⁵/
* Middle Chinese: syejH keajH
Rime :
| Character | 世 | 界 |
| Reading # | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 書 (26) | 見 (28) |
| Final (韻) | 祭 (35) | 皆 (33) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open | Open |
| Division (等) | III | II |
| Fanqie | 舒制切 | 古拜切 |
| Baxter | syejH | keajH |
| Reconstructions |||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ɕiᴇi$^H$/ | /kˠɛi$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ɕiɛi$^H$/ | /kᵚæi$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ɕjæi$^H$/ | /kɐi$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ɕiaj$^H$/ | /kəɨj$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /ɕiɛi$^H$/ | /kɛi$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /ɕĭɛi$^H$/ | /kɐi$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ɕi̯ɛi$^H$/ | /kăi$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shì | jiè |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sai$^3$ | gaai$^3$ |

### Noun

世界
* world
    世界地圖／世界地图 ― shìjiè dìtú ― world map
    世界秩序 ― shìjiè zhìxù ― world order
    世界紀錄／世界纪录 ― shìjiè jìlù ― world record
    世界潮流 ― shìjiè cháoliú ― global trend
    內心世界／内心世界 ― nèixīn shìjiè ― inner world
    環遊世界／环游世界 ― huányóu shìjiè ― to travel the world
    世界各地 ― shìjiè gèdì ― all over the world
    穆斯林世界 ― mùsīlín shìjiè ― Muslim world
       shìjiè dìyīdà jīngjìtǐ [Pinyin]
       world's biggest economy
       lièwéi shìjiè wénhuàyíchǎn [Pinyin]
       to list as a world cultural heritage site
       Shìjiè zhī dà, wúqíbùyǒu. [Pinyin]
       The world is so big that nothing is too bizarre.
       Shìjiè shàng wéiyī bùbiàn de jiùshì biànhuà. [Pinyin]
       The only constant in the world is change.
       Zhōngguó gāotiě de fāzhǎn lǐngxiān shìjiè. [Pinyin]
       China is leading the world in high-speed rail.
* (Buddhism) realm governed by a Buddha
    From: The Lotus Sutra 《正法華經》, translated by Dharmarakṣa c. 3rd century CE
    Shífāng shìjiè zhū fó shìzūn, qù lái xiànzài yì fù rúshì. [Pinyin]
    All Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, of the worlds of the Ten Directions, and those of the past, future, and present are also thus.
* (Buddhism) space, universe
* (tarot) the World
* (Northern Wu) place, territory
    一天世界 [Shanghainese] ― $^7$iq-thi-sy-ka [Wugniu] ― a mess

#### Synonyms

* (world):
* 世 (shì) (literary, or in compounds)
* 區宇 / 区宇 (qūyǔ) (literary, figurative)
* 四國 / 四国 (sìguó) (literary)
* 四海 (sìhǎi) (literary, figurative)
* 域中 (yùzhōng) (literary)
* 天下 (tiānxià) (literary, figurative)
* 天跤下 (Hokkien, figurative)
* 宇內 / 宇内 (yǔnèi) (literary, figurative)
* 薄海 (bóhǎi) (literary, figurative)
* (place):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 地方 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 地兒, 地方 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 地方 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 地方 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 地界兒, 地兒, 地方 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 地方, 地處 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 地方 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 位分 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 地方, 地頭, 塌塌 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 落地, 位子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 地方 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin (Lingui) | 地方 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pingle | 地方 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou (Luorong) | 地方 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Luzhai | 地方 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Nanning (Wuming) | 地方 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 落地, 地方 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 場子, 地方 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 地方, 埞方, 埞 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 地方, 埞, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 埞, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 埞, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 埞, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 地 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 埞, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 處, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 處 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 處 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 處所 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Guiping | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Guiping (Jintian) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Guiping (Jiangkou) | 地方, 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Guiping (Madong) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Mengshan (Xihe) | 埞方 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Nanjiang) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Beiliu (Tangliao) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Baise | 埞方, 埞 |
| Cantonese | Bobai | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Lingshan | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Pubei | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Qinzhou | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Qinzhou (Xiniujiao) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Ningming | 埞 |
| Cantonese | Hengzhou | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Sanya (Yanglan; Maihua) | 地方 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 地方 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 落地 |
| Gan | Pengze | 位置 |
| Gan | Yanshan (Hekou) | 所在 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 地方 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 埞 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 埞 |
| Hakka | Changting | 地方 |
| Hakka | Wuping | 地方 |
| Hakka | Liancheng | 地方, 所在 |
| Hakka | Liancheng (Peitian) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Ninghua | 壇裡 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Beiliu (Tang'an) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Mashan (Pianlian) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Guilin (Xiaojiang, Lingui) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Singkawang | 地方 |
| Hakka | Pontianak (Meixian) | 地方 |
| Hakka | Bangkok (Meixian) | 地方 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 許在, 許塊 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 地方 |
| Jin | Datong (Xicetian, Yunzhou) | 地方 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 地方, 所在 |
| Northern Min | Songxi | 地方 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe | 所在 |
| Northern Min | Jianyang | 所在 |
| Northern Min | Wuyishan | 地方 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 地方, 所在, 位處 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 地方, 位處 |
| Eastern Min | Lianjiang | 地方, 塊$_2$ |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 位處, 地方 |
| Eastern Min | Pingtan | 位處 |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 地道 |
| Eastern Min | Minqing | 地方 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 塊$_2$ |
| Eastern Min | Pingnan | 位場 |
| Eastern Min | Luoyuan | 位處 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 地方 |
| Eastern Min | Xiapu | 地方 |
| Eastern Min | Zherong | 所在 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 所在 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 位處 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen (Tong'an) | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Nan'an | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Shishi | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Hui'an | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Anxi | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Dehua | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou (Longhai) | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou (Changtai) | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Hua'an | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Nanjing | 所在, 底仔 |
| Southern Min | Pinghe | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Zhangpu | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Yunxiao | 佇位 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 位處 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 所在 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 地方, 所在 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 所在, 地方 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 所在, 地方 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Longyan | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 所在 |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Shangdu) | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Qionghai | 地方 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 地方 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 位處 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 位處 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 停場 |
| Central Min | Sanming (Sanyuan) | 場所 |
| Central Min | Sanming (Shaxian) | 場所 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 塊$_2$ |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Shajing) | 埞 |
| Southern Pinghua | Binyang | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Chaoyang) | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Zhuyuan) | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Wutong, Lingui) | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Liutang, Lingui) | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Lingchuan (Tanxia) | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Lingchuan (Shuangzhou) | 地方 |
| Northern Pinghua | Yangshuo (Jima) | 地方 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 地方, 場化 dated, 戶蕩 dated |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 所在 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 場化 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 所塊 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Yuhang) | 地方, 戶蕩 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 地方, 塢探, 塢碎 rare, 塢埰, 塢宕, 塢湯 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 地方 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 地方 |
| Xiang | Xiangxiang | 地方 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 場所, 地方 |
| Xiang | Quanzhou | 地方 |
| Xiang | Guanyang (Wenshi) | 地方 |

#### Derived terms

* 世界主義 / 世界主义 (shìjiè zhǔyì)
* 世界人權宣言 / 世界人权宣言 (Shìjiè Rénquán Xuānyán)
* 世界仔
* 世界公民 (shìjiè gōngmín)
* 世界博覽會 / 世界博览会 (shìjiè bólǎnhuì)
* 世界大戰 / 世界大战 (shìjiè dàzhàn)
* 世界屋脊 (shìjiè wūjǐ)
* 世界性 (shìjièxìng)
* 世界時 / 世界时 (Shìjièshí)
* 世界村 (shìjiècūn)
* 世界波 (shìjièbō)
* 世界盃 / 世界杯 (shìjièbēi)
* 世界級 / 世界级 (shìjièjí)
* 世界線 / 世界线 (shìjièxiàn)
* 世界衛生組織 / 世界卫生组织 (Shìjiè Wèishēng Zǔzhī)
* 世界觀 / 世界观 (shìjièguān)
* 世界語 / 世界语 (shìjièyǔ)
* 世界貿易組織 / 世界贸易组织 (Shìjiè Màoyì Zǔzhī)
* 世界遺產 / 世界遗产 (shìjiè yíchǎn)
* 世界銀行 / 世界银行 (Shìjiè Yínháng)
* 世界音樂 / 世界音乐 (shìjiè yīnyuè)
* 世錦賽 / 世锦赛 (shìjǐnsài)
* 做世界 (zuòshìjiè)
* 全世界 (quánshìjiè)
* 大千世界 (dàqiānshìjiè)
* 異世界 / 异世界 (yìshìjiè)
* 第一世界 (Dì-yī Shìjiè)
* 花花世界 (huāhuāshìjiè)

#### Related terms

* 人間／人间 (rénjiān)
* 宇宙 (yǔzhòu)

#### Descendants

* → Japanese: 世(せ)界(かい) (sekai)
* → Okinawan: 世(し)界(けー) (shikē)
* → Korean: 세계(世界) (segye)
* → Vietnamese: thế giới (世界)
Others:
* → Zhuang: seiqgyaiq

### Further reading

* Ding, Fubao (丁福保) (1922), “世界” in 佛學大辭典 [A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms].

### Adverb

世界
* (Taiwanese Hokkien) extremely; super
    世界甜 [Taiwanese Hokkien] ― sè-kài tiⁿ [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― super sweet
    From: 劉福助, ft. 李亞萍, lyrics by 劉福助, 𠯦𠯦嘜相欠
    tùi lí sè-kài hó, m̄-thang koh-chài hiâm [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]
    I treat you super well, stop complaining

### Further reading

* “世界”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese

Kanji in this term :
| 世 | 界 |
| せ Grade: 3 | かい Grade: 3 |
| goon | kan'on |

### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 世界 (MC syejH keajH), originally a translation of Sanskrit लोकधातु (lokadhātu, “region or part of the world”). Compare Hokkien 世界 (sè-kài).

### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) せかい [séꜜkàì] (Atamadaka – [1])
* IPA: [se̞ka̠i]
* Audio:(file)

### Noun

世(せ)界(かい) • (sekai)
* world
    世(せ)界(かい)の各(かっ)国(こく)から
       sekai no kakkoku kara
       from each country of the world
** 1988 July 30 [1984 July 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “ふたりぼっち [Just the two of us]”, in ポストの中の明日 [Tomorrow in the Letterbox] (藤子不二雄少年SF短編集; 2), 10th edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 162:
    目(め)にはみえないが、この世(せ)界(かい)のほかに無(む)数(すう)の世(せ)界(かい)が重(か)さなりあって存(そん)在(ざい)しているという…………。そしてぼくはふたつの世(せ)界(かい)の境(きょう)界(かい)を破(や)ぶってこっちへとびこんできたんだ‼
       Me ni wa mienai ga, kono sekai no hoka ni musū no sekai ga kasanariatte sonzai shite iru to iu………….
       They say there are countless worlds that coexist with this one even though we can’t really see them….
       Soshite boku wa futatsu no sekai no kyōkai o yabutte kotchi e tobikonde kita n da‼
       And I somehow managed to get across the boundary between our two worlds!!
** 1997 June 30 [1980 January 25], Fujiko F. Fujio, “タンポポ空を行く [A Dandelion Soaring in the Sky]”, in ドラえもん [Doraemon], 58th edition, volume 18 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 188:
    はじめて見(み)る広(ひろ)い世(せ)界(かい)が、楽(たの)しみだったわ。
       Hajimete miru hiroi sekai ga, tanoshimi datta wa.
       I was so eager to see the vast world for the first time.
** 1999 September 23, “ダーク・ラビット [Dark Rabbit]”, in Vol.5, Konami:
    アメリカンコミックの世(せ)界(かい)のウサギ。とても素(す)早(ばや)くちょこまかと動(うご)く。
       Amerikan komikku no sekai no usagi. Totemo subayaku chokomaka to ugoku.
       A bunny from the world of American comics. He restlessly leaps up and down like crazy fast.
** 2000 January 27, “トゥーン・アリゲーター [Toon Alligator]”, in Vol.7, Konami:
    アメリカンコミックの世(せ)界(かい)から現(あらわ)れた、ワニのモンスター。
       Amerikan komikku no sekai kara arawareta, wani no monsutā.
       A crocodilian monster from the world of American comics.
* a metaphorical world (how one lives one's life)
    彼(かれ)はこの世(せ)界(かい)に住(す)んでいないようです。
       Kare wa kono sekai ni sunde inai yō desu.
       It's like he's not living in this world.
* society, the times
    Synonyms: 世間 (seken), 世の中 (yo no naka)
* a realm, a circle, a sphere
    文(ぶん)学(がく)の世(せ)界(かい)
       bungaku no sekai
       literary circles, the literary world
* (Buddhism) the four inner realms of 須弥山 (Shumisen)
* (Buddhism) realm governed by a buddha
* (Buddhism) space, universe
* (tarot) the World

#### Derived terms

* 世(せ)界(かい)遺(い)産(さん)条(じょう)約(やく) (Sekai Isan Jōyaku, “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)遺(い)産(さん)登(とう)録(ろく)地(ち) (sekai isan tōroku chi, “World Heritage Site”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)一(いっ)周(しゅう)旅(りょ)行(こう) (sekai isshū ryokō, “round-the-world trip”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)一(いち) (sekaīchi, “best in the world, most (adjective) in the world”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)観(かん) (sekaikan, “worldview”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)気(き)象(しょう)機(き)関(かん) (Sekai Kishō Kikan): the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
* 世(せ)界(かい)恐(きょう)慌(こう) (Sekai Kyōkō, “Great Depression”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)記(き)録(ろく) (sekai kiroku, “world record”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)銀(ぎん)行(こう) (Sekai Ginkō, “World Bank”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)語(ご) (sekaigo, “universal language, international language”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)国(こっ)家(か) (sekai kokka)
* 世(せ)界(かい)史(し) (sekaishi, “world history”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)時(じ) (sekaiji): Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Zulu time, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
* 世(せ)界(かい)資(し)源(げん)研(けん)究(きゅう)所(しょ) (Sekai Shigen Kenkyūsho): the World Resources Institute (WRI)
* 世(せ)界(かい)自(し)然(ぜん)保(ほ)護(ご)基(き)金(きん) (Sekai Shizen Hogo Kikin): the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
* 世(せ)界(かい)中(じゅう) (sekaijū, “throughout the world, all the world, worldwide”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)主(しゅ)義(ぎ) (sekai shugi, “cosmopolitanism, internationalism”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)宗(しゅ)教(きょう) (sekai shukyō, “world religion”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)人(じん) (sekaijin, “cosmopolite, person of the world”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)人(じん)権(けん)宣(せん)言(げん) (Sekai Jinken Sengen, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)像(ぞう) (sekaizō)
* 世(せ)界(かい)選(せん)手(しゅ)権(けん)大(たい)会(かい) (sekai senshuken taikai, “world championship”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)大(たい)戦(せん) (sekai taisen, “world war”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)知(ち)的(てき)所(しょ)有(ゆう)権(けん)機(き)関(かん) (Sekai Chiteki Shoyūken Kikan): the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
* 世(せ)界(かい)連(づれ) (sekaizure, “in line with the rest of the world, normal”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)的(てき) (sekai-teki, “global”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)博覧会(はくらんかい) (Sekai Hakurankai, “World Fair, World Exposition”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)平和(へいわ) (sekai heiwa, “world peace”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)貿(ぼう)易(えき)機(き)構(こう) (Sekai Bōeki Kikō): the World Trade Organization (WTO)
* 世(せ)界(かい)保(ほ)健(けん)機(き)構(こう) (Sekai Hoken Kikō): the World Health Organization (WHO)
* 世(せ)界(かい)労(ろう)働(どう)組(くみ)合(あい)連(れん)盟(めい) (Sekai Rōdō Kumiai Renmei): the World Federation of Trade Unions (WTFU)
* 異(い)世(せ)界(かい) (isekai, “different world”)
* 可(か)能(のう)世(せ)界(かい) (kanō sekai)
* 器(き)世(せ)界(かい) (kisekai)
* 旧(きゅう)世(せ)界(かい) (kyū-sekai, “Old World”)
* 銀(ぎん)世(せ)界(かい) (gin sekai)
* 月(げっ)世(せ)界(かい) (gessekai)
* 実(じっ)世(せ)界(かい) (jissekai)
* 新(しん)世(せ)界(かい) (shin-sekai, “new world, the New World”)
* 全(ぜん)世(せ)界(かい) (zensekai)
* 第(だい)一(いち)世(せ)界(かい) (Daīchi Sekai, “First World”)
* 第(だい)二(に)世(せ)界(かい) (Daini Sekai, “Second World”)
* 第(だい)三(さん)世(せ)界(かい) (Daisan Sekai, “Third World”)
* 反(はん)世(せ)界(かい) (hansekai)
* 別(べっ)世(せ)界(かい) (bessekai, “different world, separate world”)
* 世(よ)世(せ)界(かい) (yosekai)

#### Idioms

* 世(せ)界(かい)に余(あま)った女(おんな)は無(な)い (sekai ni amatta onna wa nai): "there are no leftover women in the world" → there is someone for everyone (said particularly to women)
* 世(せ)界(かい)に鬼(おに)は無(な)い (sekai ni oni wa nai): "there are no devils in the world" → the world is not full of heartless people, and there are many kind souls who will lend a hand (compare "the kindness of strangers")
* 世(せ)界(かい)は大(だい)戯(ぎ)場(じょう)の如(ごと)し (sekai wa daigijō no gotoshi, “the world is just like a big theatre → all the world's a stage”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)は張(は)り物(もの) (sekai wa harimono, “the world is starched clothes → it's all about appearances, clothes make the man”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)は回(まわ)り持(も)ち (sekai wa mawarimochi, “the world comes in turns → all things come to those who wait, to everything there is a season”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)半(はん)分(ぶん)自(うぬ)惚(ぼ)れしっかり (sekai hanbun unubore shikkari, “of the world, only halfway, but full of conceit → being full of oneself without bothering to learn much about the world”)
* 世(せ)界(かい)我(わ)が物(もの) (sekai wagamono, “the world is one's possession → acting as if one owns the world”)

#### See also

* 天(てん)地(ち) (tenchi, “heaven and earth”)
* 宇(う)宙(ちゅう) (uchū, “universe”)
* 自(し)然(ぜん) (shizen, “nature”)
* 万(ばん)象(しょう) (banshō, “all things, all of the universe, every manifestation of nature”)
* 万(ばん)物(ぶつ) (banbutsu, “all things, all of the universe, every manifestation of nature”)

### Proper noun

世(せ)界(かい) • (Sekai)
* a female given name
* a surname

### References

* ↑ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
* 1 2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
   * 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.

## Korean

Hanja in this term :
| 世 | 界 |

### Noun

世界 • (segye) (hangeul 세계)
* hanja form of 세계 (“world”)

## Okinawan

Kanji in this term :
| 世 | 界 |
| Grade: 3 | Grade: 3 |

### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 世界 (ɕiᴇi$^H$ kˠɛi$^H$). Cognate with Japanese 世(せ)界(かい) (sekai).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɕikeː/

### Noun

世界(しけー) (shikē)
* world, society

## Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term :
| 世 | 界 |

### Noun

世界
* chữ Hán form of thế giới (“world”).