Translation and Meaning of: 世界 - sekai

The Japanese word 世界[せかい] is one of those that frequently appears in animes, songs, and even in everyday life in Japan. If you are studying Japanese or just curious about the language, understanding its meaning, origin, and use can open doors to better comprehend Japanese culture. In this article, we will explore everything about 世界, from its most common translation to how it is perceived in modern Japan.

In addition to being a useful word for those looking to expand their vocabulary, 世界 carries interesting nuances that reflect the Japanese view of the world. Whether in everyday expressions or philosophical contexts, it is more than just a simple translation of "world." Let’s dive into the details that make this word so special in the Japanese language.

Meaning and translation of 世界

世界 is generally translated as "world" in Portuguese, but its meaning goes a bit further. While in Portuguese "world" can refer to both the planet Earth and a specific context (like "the business world"), in Japanese, せかい tends to encompass the idea of a broad physical and social space. It can mean everything from the globe to a more abstract environment, like "the world of art" (芸術の世界).

Another possible translation is "universe," especially in more philosophical or poetic contexts. However, it is worth noting that for "universe" in the astronomical sense, the Japanese typically use 宇宙[うちゅう]. The difference is subtle but important: 世界 is more about the human experience within a space, while 宇宙 refers to the physical cosmos.

Origin and composition of the kanji 世界

The word 世界 has its origins in Buddhism, where it was used to translate the Sanskrit term "loka," which means "world" or "sphere of existence." The kanjis that make it up are 世 (world, era) and 界 (boundary, limit). Together, they form the idea of a "defined world" or "sphere of living." This religious origin still resonates in expressions like あの世 (the other world, in the spiritual sense).

It is interesting to note that, while in modern Chinese these same characters (世界) maintain a similar meaning, in Japanese the word has gained broader uses in daily life. The kanji 世 alone can mean "generation" or "society," while 界 appears in words like 業界[ぎょうかい] (industry) or 政界[せいかい] (political world). This flexibility makes 世界 a word with layers of meaning that go beyond simple geography.

Cultural usage and frequency in Japan

In modern Japan, 世界 is an extremely common word, appearing in news, conversations, and even place names. Expressions like 世界一[せかいいち] (number one in the world) or 世界観[せかいかん] (worldview) are frequently used. Its popularity reflects how Japanese society is becoming increasingly connected with the global sphere, whether in technology, culture, or business.

In the media, 世界 appears prominently in the titles of animes such as "Attack on Titan" (進撃の巨人), where concepts like "walls that protect the world" use this word. It is also common in popular songs, often carrying a poetic or nostalgic tone. This versatility makes 世界 one of those words that every Japanese language student ends up encountering sooner or later in their learning process.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 世界 (Sekai) - World, universe; the totality of things that exist.
• せかい (Sekai) - World, universe; the totality of things that exist.
• セカイ (Sekai) - World, universe; the totality of things that exist.

世界

Romaji: sekai
Kana: せかい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: the world; society; the universe

Meaning in English: the world;society;the universe

Definition: The entirety of the land inhabited by humans.

Example Sentences - (世界) sekai

See below some example sentences:

ビジネスは世界中で重要な役割を果たしています。

Bijinesu wa sekaijuu de juuyou na yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Business plays an important role all over the world.

Business plays an important role all over the world.

• ビジネス - katakana word meaning "business"
• は - Topic particle
• 世界中 - an expression that means "all over the world"
• で - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 重要な - Adjective meaning "important"
• 役割 - noun meaning "role" or "function"
• を - direct object particle
• 果たしています - verb meaning "to perform" or "to fulfill", conjugated in the present affirmative

愛は世界を変える力を持っています。

Ai wa sekai wo kaeru chikara wo motte imasu

Love has the power to change the world.

Love has the power to change the world.

• 愛 (ai) - love
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 世界 (sekai) - world
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 変える (kaeru) - change
• 力 (chikara) - power
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 持っています (motteimasu) - I'm sorry, but it seems like the text you provided is incomplete. Please provide a complete string for translation.
• . (ponto final) - punctuation mark

実業家はビジネスの世界で成功するために必要なスキルを持っています。

Jitsugyōka wa bijinesu no sekai de seikō suru tame ni hitsuyō na sukiru o motte imasu

An entrepreneur possesses the necessary skills to succeed in the business world.

Entrepreneurs have the necessary skills to succeed in the business world.

• 実業家 - entrepreneur
• は - Topic particle
• ビジネス - business
• の - Possession particle
• 世界 - world
• で - Location particle
• 成功する - succeed
• ために - for
• 必要な - necessary
• スキル - skills
• を - direct object particle
• 持っています - to possess

世界は広いです。

Sekai wa hiroi desu

The world is vast.

The world is wide.

• 世界 - means "world" in Japanese.
• は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 広い - means "wide" or "spacious" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.

世界は常に回っている。

Sekai wa tsuneni mawatte iru

The world is always turning.

The world is always around.

• 世界 - It means "world" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese grammatical particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 常に - means "always" in Japanese
• 回っている - Japanese verb that means "to spin" or "to turn" in the present continuous.

何て素晴らしい世界だろう！

Nante subarashii sekai darou!

What a wonderful World!

• 何て - adverb that indicates surprise or admiration
• 素晴らしい - adjective that means wonderful or splendid
• 世界 - noun that means world or universe
• だろう - particle that indicates assumption or probability
• ！ - Exclamation sign

北極は氷の世界です。

Hokkyoku wa kōri no sekai desu

The Arctic is a world of ice.

The Arctic is the world of ice.

• 北極 - Proper name referring to Polo Norte.
• は - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 氷 - "Noun meaning 'ice'."
• の - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between nouns.
• 世界 - Noun that means "world".
• です - The verb to be in the polite and formal form of Japanese.

厳しい世界で生きる。

Kibishii sekai de ikiru

Living in a harsh world.

Live in a harsh world.

• 厳しい - means "rigorous" or "severe"
• 世界 - It means "world".
• で - it is a particle that indicates the place or situation in which something happens
• 生きる - means "to live"

国連は世界平和と安全を促進するための重要な組織です。

Kokuren wa sekai heiwa to anzen o sokushin suru tame no juuyou na soshiki desu

The United Nations is an important organization for promoting world peace and security.

• 国連 (Kokuren) - 国際連合 (こくさいれんごう)
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 世界 (sekai) - world
• 平和 (heiwa) - peace
• と (to) - grammatical particle that connects words or phrases with the same meaning
• 安全 (anzen) - security
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 促進する (sokushin suru) - promote, encourage
• ための (tame no) - expression indicating the purpose of something
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 組織 (soshiki) - organization
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

広がる世界を一緒に旅しましょう。

Hirogaru sekai wo issho ni tabi shimashou

Let's travel the world together.

• 広がる - verb that means "to spread", "to expand"
• 世界 - noun that means "world"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 一緒に - expression that means "together"
• 旅 - noun that means "trip"
• しましょう - verb that indicates a suggestion or invitation to do something together