Translation and Meaning of: 境 - sakai

A palavra japonesa 境[さかい] carrega significados profundos e usos variados no cotidiano do Japão. Se você está aprendendo japonês ou apenas se interessa pela cultura do país, entender o sentido e a aplicação dessa expressão pode abrir portas para novas interpretações. Neste artigo, vamos explorar desde o significado básico até curiosidades sobre como ela aparece em contextos culturais e linguísticos.

Além de ser um termo útil para estudantes, 境[さかい] também tem relevância em discussões filosóficas e sociais no Japão. Veremos como essa palavra é usada em diferentes situações, desde conversas do dia a dia até expressões mais formais. Se você já se perguntou sobre a origem ou a melhor forma de memorizá-la, continue lendo para descobrir.

Significado e uso de 境[さかい]

Em sua essência, 境[さかい] significa "fronteira", "limite" ou "divisa". Ela pode se referir tanto a barreiras físicas, como entre países ou regiões, quanto a conceitos abstratos, como momentos de transição na vida. Por exemplo, a expressão 境目[さかいめ] (derivada de 境) descreve a linha que separa duas coisas, seja um rio entre cidades ou a mudança de uma fase para outra.

No cotidiano, os japoneses usam essa palavra para falar sobre situações em que há uma clara distinção entre dois estados. Um exemplo prático é a frase 「人生の境に立つ」, que significa "estar em um ponto de virada na vida". Esse tipo de uso mostra como o termo está ligado a momentos decisivos, reforçando sua importância tanto na língua quanto na cultura.

Origem e escrita do kanji 境

O kanji 境 é composto pelo radical 土 (terra) e pelo componente 竟, que sugere ideia de conclusão ou limite. Essa combinação não é por acaso: ela reforça a noção de divisão entre espaços ou conceitos. Estudos etimológicos apontam que o caractere surgiu na China antiga e foi incorporado ao japonês com um significado similar ao original.

Vale destacar que 境 não é um dos kanjis mais frequentes no dia a dia, mas aparece em palavras importantes como 境界[きょうかい] (fronteira) e 環境[かんきょう] (meio ambiente). Se você está aprendendo japonês, reconhecer esse kanji em compostos pode ajudar a expandir seu vocabulário de maneira significativa.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

Uma forma eficaz de fixar 境[さかい] é associá-la a imagens de divisões concretas, como mapas com linhas demarcando territórios. Outra estratégia é lembrar de sua presença em termos como 境内[けいだい], que se refere ao terreno de um santuário xintoísta — um espaço delimitado com significado religioso.

Curiosamente, essa palavra também tem um peso filosófico no Japão. Ela aparece em discussões sobre 幽玄[ゆうげん], conceito estético que valoriza o mistério e os limites entre o visível e o invisível. Esse tipo de uso mostra como a língua japonesa conecta termos cotidianos a reflexões mais profundas.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 界 (kai) - world, sphere; the concept of a defined area.
• 限界 (genkai) - limit, restriction; refers to the maximum achievable in any context.
• 範囲 (han'i) - scope; refers to an area of influence or effect.
• 縁 (en) - bond, connection; implying a special relationship or tie.
• 境界 (kyōkai) - border, limit; the line that separates two territories or states.
• 境地 (kyōchi) - state or condition; refers to a mental or psychological state associated with a limit.
• 境遇 (kyōgu) - circumstances; the conditions or situations that surround a person.
• 境目 (sakaime) - division, boundary; a line or point of demarcation between two areas.
• 境界線 (kyōkaisenn) - border line; the line that delineates the borders of two territories.
• 境界面 (kyōkaimen) - boundary surface; refers to the surface where two areas meet.
• 境内 (keidai) - temple area; refers to the area within the space of a temple.
• 境外 (keigai) - outside the area; indicates the region beyond the border or limit of a specific space.
• 境界部分 (kyōkaibubun) - part of the border; refers to a specific section of a boundary line.
• 境界点 (kyōkaiten) - boundary point; a specific point that marks the boundary between two areas.
• 境域 (kyōiki) - zone or area; refers to a region defined by boundaries.
• 境地面 (kyōchimen) - state surface; the area where certain conditions or states meet.
• 境目線 (sakaimisen) - boundary line; refers to the visual line that divides two areas.
• 境目面 (sakaimesen) - demarcation surface; it refers to the surface that separates two circumscriptions.
• 境目部分 (sakaibubun) - demarcation part; a specific section that marks the separation between areas.
• 境目点 (sakaimeten) - boundary point; a specific point that indicates the separation between areas.
• 境目域 (sakaimidai) - demarcation zone; an area that designates or defines boundaries.
• 境目地 (sakaimichi) - place of demarcation; refers to the exact location of separation between areas.
• 境目遇 (sakaimou) - meeting of limits; refers to the point where two areas meet.
• 境目界 (sakaikakai) - demarcation border; refers to the boundary between two separated areas.
• 境目範囲 (sakaimihan'i) - demarcation scope; the extent or area defined by boundaries.
• 境目縁 (sakaien) - limitation connection; implies a relationship between limits and their connections.
• 境目限界 (sakaigenkai) - limit of demarcation; the maximum point of separation between areas.
• 境目界線 (sakaikaisen) - boundary line; the physical line that separates two areas.
• 境目界面 (sakaikaimen) - demarcation surface; refers to the surface that represents the separation.
• 境目内 (sakaiminai) - within the limit; refers to the internal area of a demarcation.
• 境目外 (sakaimigai) - out of bounds; represents everything that is beyond the demarcation.
• 境目界部分 (sakaikakubun) - part of the demarcation line; a specific section of the line that divides areas.

境

Romaji: sakai
Kana: さかい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: border; limit; state

Meaning in English: border;boundary;mental state

Definition: Borders

Example Sentences - (境) sakai

See below some example sentences:

削減は環境保護のために重要です。

Sakugen wa kankyō hogo no tame ni jūyō desu

Reduction is important for environmental protection.

The reduction is important for environmental protection.

• 削減 - reduction
• は - Topic particle
• 環境保護 - environmental protection
• のために - for
• 重要 - important
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

化繊は環境に悪影響を与える可能性がある。

Kasen wa kankyō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga aru

Synthetic fibers may have an adverse effect on the environment.

• 化繊 - abbreviation of "chemical fiber", refers to synthetic fabrics produced from chemical products.
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "化繊".
• 環境 - environment, environment.
• に - location particle, indicates that the negative impact is "in" the environment.
• 悪影響 - negative effect, harmful impact.
• を - direct object particle, indicates that the object of the action is "可能性 of having a negative impact on the environment".
• 与える - to cause, to have an effect on.
• 可能性 - possibility, probability.
• が - subject particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "可能性がある".
• ある - to exist, to have.

国境を越える旅がしたいです。

Kokkyō wo koeru tabi ga shitai desu

I want to take a trip crossing the border.

I want to travel the border.

• 国境 - country border
• を - object particle
• 越える - cross, overtake
• 旅 - trip
• が - subject particle
• したい - to want to do
• です - be (polite form)

放射能は環境に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

Hōshanō wa kankyō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu

Radioactivity can have an adverse effect on the environment.

• 放射能 - Radiation
• は - Topic marking particle
• 環境 - environment
• に - Destination marking particle
• 悪影響 - negative effect
• を - object marker particle
• 与える - cause
• 可能性 - possibility
• が - subject marking particle
• あります - exists

新入生は新しい環境に慣れるのに時間がかかることがあります。

Shinnyūsei wa atarashii kankyō ni nareru no ni jikan ga kakaru koto ga arimasu

New students can take time to get used to a new environment.

• 新入生 - "new students"
• は - it is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "new students".
• 新しい - means "new" in Japanese.
• 環境 - It means "environment" in Japanese.
• に - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the direction or target of the action, in this case "to" the new environment.
• 慣れる - It means "to get used to" in Japanese.
• のに - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates a condition or a reason, in this case "to" get used to the new environment.
• 時間 - "tempo" means "time" in Japanese.
• がかかる - it's a Japanese expression that means "to take time" or "to be necessary time".
• こと - it is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates an action or an event, in this case "to take time".
• あります - It is a polite way to say "there is" or "there are" in Japanese.

清潔な環境は健康につながる。

Seiketsu na kankyou wa kenkou ni tsunagaru

A clean environment leads to health.

• 清潔な - adjective that means "clean"
• 環境 - noun that means "environment"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 健康 - noun that means "health"
• に - particle that indicates the relationship between the subject and the verb
• つながる - verb that means "to be connected" or "to be related"

私は新しい環境でまごつくことがあります。

Watashi wa atarashii kankyō de magotsuku koto ga arimasu

I get confused in new environments.

I can get rid of it in a new environment.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 新しい - 新しい (atarashii)
• 環境 - Japanese noun that means "environment"
• で - particle that indicates the location where the action takes place
• まごつく - Japanese verb that means "to become confused."
• こと - A palavra japonesa que significa "coisa" é "もの" (mono).
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります - Japanese verb that means "to exist"

私は新しい環境に慣れるのに時間がかかります。

Watashi wa atarashii kankyō ni nareru no ni jikan ga kakarimasu

It takes time to get used to a new environment.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 新しい - 新しい (atarashii)
• 環境 - Japanese noun that means "environment"
• に - Japanese particle that indicates action towards something or a place.
• 慣れる - Japanese verb that means "to get used to"
• のに - Japanese particle that indicates the purpose or objective of an action.
• 時間 - Japanese noun that means "time"
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• かかります - Japanese verb meaning "to take time."

私の境遇は良くないです。

Watashi no kyōguu wa yokunai desu

My situation is not good.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 境遇 - Noun meaning "situation" or "condition" in Japanese.
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 良くない - adjective meaning "bad" or "not good" in Japanese
• です - linking verb that indicates formality and courtesy in the Japanese language

逆境に立ち向かうことが人生の成長につながる。

Gyakkyou ni tachimukau koto ga jinsei no seichou ni tsunagaru

Facing adversity leads to growth in life.

Confident adversities lead to the growth of life.

• 逆境 (gyakkyou) - adversity
• に (ni) - particle indicating destination or location
• 立ち向かう (tachimukau) - confront, resist
• こと (koto) - abstract noun, indicating action or event
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• の (no) - partítulo indicando posse ou relação
• 成長 (seichou) - growth, development
• につながる (ni tsunagaru) - lead to, result in