Translation and Meaning of: 社会 - shakai
The Japanese word 社会 [しゃかい] is essential for anyone who wants to understand not only the language but also the culture and structure of Japan. If you've ever wondered what it means, how to use it, or even what its origin is, this article will explore all of that in a clear and straightforward manner. Here, you will find everything from the basic meaning to curiosities about its use in everyday Japanese life, all based on reliable sources and verified information.
In addition to being a common word in conversations and formal texts, 社会 carries important nuances about how the Japanese view society and their role in it. Whether for Japanese language learners or those curious about the topic, understanding this expression will help to unveil a bit more of the collective thinking of the country. Shall we begin?
Meaning and use of 社会 [しゃかい]
社会 is a word that can be translated as "society," but its meaning goes beyond that. It refers to the group of people living in a community, with their rules, structures, and interactions. In Japan, this term is often used in contexts involving discussions about work, education, and even individual responsibilities within the group.
An interesting detail is that 社会 does not only refer to the macro sense of "society." It also appears in expressions like 社会人 [しゃかいじん], which means "member of society" or, more colloquially, "a person who is already in the job market." This shows how the term is connected to the idea of active participation in the community, something highly valued in Japanese culture.
Origin and writing of the kanji 社会
The composition of the kanji 社会 is a great starting point to understand its meaning. The first character, 社 [しゃ], is associated with "company" or "shrine," while the second, 会 [かい], means "meeting" or "gathering." Together, they form the idea of an organized group, whether in a religious, corporate, or social context.
It is worth noting that this combination is not exclusive to Japanese. The term originates from classical Chinese but was incorporated into the Japanese vocabulary with a broader meaning. While in Chinese it may have a bias more associated with "associations" or "specific groups," in Japan, 社会 has gained a more comprehensive meaning, representing the entire social structure.
How 社会 is perceived in Japan today
In contemporary Japan, 社会 is a word loaded with cultural significance. It reflects the importance of the collective over the individual, a value deeply rooted in society. When a Japanese person says that someone has "entered society" (社会に出る), they are usually referring to the moment when that person starts working and takes on their responsibilities as an active part of the community.
Additionally, the term often appears in discussions about social issues, such as population aging or changes in the labor market. This shows how 社会 is not just an abstract concept, but something alive and constantly transforming in the daily life of the country. For those studying Japanese, noticing these nuances can make all the difference when it comes to understanding news, articles, or even everyday conversations.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 社交 (shakou) - Social relationship, social interaction.
- 社会団体 (shakai dantai) - Social organization, a group that works for social causes.
- 社会的 (shakaiteki) - Regarding society, social aspects.
- 社会制度 (shakai seido) - Social system, organizational structure of society.
- 社会科学 (shakai kagaku) - Social sciences, the study of societies and their interactions.
- 社会福祉 (shakai fukushi) - Social well-being, policies, and practices that promote the health and well-being of society.
- 社会問題 (shakai mondai) - Social problems, issues that affect society as a whole.
Related words
Romaji: shakai
Kana: しゃかい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4
Translation / Meaning: society; public
Meaning in English: society;public
Definition: A community where people gather and interact with each other.
Quick Access
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- Writing
- Sentences
How to Write in Japanese - (社会) shakai
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (社会) shakai:
Example Sentences - (社会) shakai
See below some example sentences:
Shomin wa shakai no naka de juuyou na sonzai desu
Ordinary people are an important presence in society.
Ordinary people are important in society.
- 庶民 - It means "common people" or "working class."
- は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "庶民".
- 社会 - It means "society".
- の - ownership particle, indicates that "社会" is the owner of "庶民".
- 中で - It means "in the middle of" or "inside of".
- 重要な - adjective that means "important".
- 存在 - means "existence" or "presence".
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form.
Kensetsu wa shakai no hatten ni fukaketsu na yōso desu
Construction is an indispensable element for the development of society.
Construction is an essential element for social development.
- 建設 - Construction
- は - Topic particle
- 社会 - Society
- の - Possessive particle
- 発展 - Development
- に - Destination particle
- 不可欠 - Essential
- な - adjectival suffix
- 要素 - Element
- です - polite way of being
Kifu wa shakai kōken no hitotsu no hōhō desu
Donation is a way to contribute to society.
Donating is a way to contribute to society.
- 寄付 (きふ) - donation
- は - Topic particle
- 社会貢献 (しゃかいこうけん) - contribution to society
- の - Possession particle
- 一つ (ひとつ) - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
- の - Possession particle
- 方法 (ほうほう) - method
- です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)
Fujin wa shakai no juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashiteimasu
Women play an important role in society.
Women play an important role in society.
- 婦人 - woman
- は - Topic particle
- 社会 - society
- の - Possession particle
- 重要な - important
- 役割 - role/function
- を - direct object particle
- 果たしています - performing
Gakujutsu kenkyū wa shakai ni kōken suru jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu
Academic research plays an important role in contributing to society.
Academic research plays an important role in contributing to society.
- 学術研究 - gakujutsu kenkyuu- academic research
- は - wa- Topic particle
- 社会 - shakai- society
- に - ni- target particle
- 貢献する - kouken suru- contribute
- 重要な - juuyou na- important
- 役割 - role- Paper, function
- を - I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.- direct object particle
- 果たしています - hatashite imasu- perform, fulfill
Konpyūtā wa gendai shakai ni kakasenai sonzai desu
Computers are an indispensable presence in modern society.
Computers are indispensable to modern society.
- コンピューター - computer
- は - Topic particle
- 現代社会 - Modern society
- に - Location particle
- 欠かせない - indispensable
- 存在 - existence
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kouhei na shakai wo mezashimashou
Let's look for a fair society.
- 公平な - adjective meaning "fair" or "impartial"
- 社会 - noun meaning "society"
- を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
- 目指しましょう - verb meaning "to seek" or "to aim for", conjugated in the polite imperative
Tori shima ri wa shakai no chitsujo wo mamoru tame ni hitsuyou na koto desu
Building is necessary to protect the order of society.
- 取り締まり (torishimari) - action of supervising and punishing infractions or crimes
- は (wa) - particle that marks the theme of the sentence
- 社会 (shakai) - society
- の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
- 秩序 (chitsujo) - order, organization
- を (wo) - particle that marks the object of the sentence
- 守る (mamoru) - protect, preserve
- ために (tameni) - to, with the objective of
- 必要な (hitsuyou na) - necessary
- こと (koto) - thing, subject
- です (desu) - verb to be, to stay
Zouka suru jinkou ga shakai mondai to natte iru
Population increase is becoming a social problem.
The growing population has become a social problem.
- 増加する - increasing
- 人口 - population
- が - (subject particle)
- 社会問題 - social problem
- と - (connection particle)
- なっている - is becoming
Josei wa shakai ni oite juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu
Women play an important role in society.
- 女性 - Women
- は - Topic particle
- 社会 - Society
- において - na
- 重要な - Important
- 役割 - Paper
- を果たしています - perform
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
