What is the Kanji for "World" and "Generation"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "World" and "Generation", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "World" and "Generation" is "世".

This kanji has 3 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Yo".

Its onyomi readings are "Sei" and "Se".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:

The radical "廿" means "Twenty" . And The radical "𠃊" means "Second" .

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "世" mean in japanese?

"世" means "World" and "Generation".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N4 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

世界: "World". The Japanese noun '世界 (せかい)' means 'world'. It refers to the entire planet earth and all the countries, lands, and people that exist on it. The word can also be used more broadly to refer to a particular area, field, or sphere of activity. For example: The world is getting smaller - (世界はどんどん小さくなっていく), This book opens up a whole new world - (この本は新しい世界を切り開いてくれる).

世紀: "Century". The Japanese noun '世紀 (せいき)' means 'century'. A century is a period of 100 years. This word is used to refer to a specific timeframe of 100 years, such as the 20th century or the 21st century. For example: The 20th century was a time of great technological advancement - (20世紀は大きな技術革新の時代でした). Japan has a long history spanning many centuries - (日本は何世紀にもわたる長い歴史がある).

世: "World" or "Age". The Japanese noun '世 (よ)' can have two main meanings: 'world' or 'age/era'. When referring to the 'world', it encompasses the entire earth and all that exists in it. For example: This is the world we live in - (これが私たちの住む世). When referring to an 'age' or 'era', it signifies a period of time marked by particular events, trends or circumstances. For example: A new age has begun - (新しい世が始まった).

世間: "Society". The Japanese noun '世間 (せけん)' refers to general society, the public, or the wider world. It implies the common way of thinking or acting that is accepted by the majority of people. This word is often used to represent the social norms, expectations, and opinions that shape people's behavior and perceptions. For example: She is very concerned about what society thinks - (彼女は世間の目を気にしている). I don't really care what society thinks - (私は世間のことなど気にしない).

世代: "Generation". The Japanese noun '世代 (せだい)' refers to a generation, an age group, or a cohort of people born around the same time and that share similar cultural experiences and characteristics. For example: Each generation has its own unique values and customs - (それぞれの世代には独自の価値観や慣習がある). The younger generation today is very different from the previous generation - (今の若い世代は前の世代と非常に異なる).

世の中: "World" or "Society". The Japanese noun '世の中 (よのなか)' can mean 'the world' or 'society'. It refers to the overall state of the world or the society that people live in. This word is often used to describe the general conditions, trends, or circumstances that exist in the world or in people's lives. For example: The world is changing - (世の中は変わっていく). Everyone in society is busy - (世の中みんな忙しい).

世話: "Care". The Japanese verbal noun '世話 (せわ)' means 'care'. This term refers to the act of looking after or taking care of someone or something. It implies providing attention, assistance, and support to ensure the well-being of the recipient. For example: I take care of my grandmother - (私は祖母の世話をしている). Caring for a child is important - (子供の世話をすることは大切だ).

出世: "Rise". The Japanese verbal noun '出世 (しゅっせ)' means 'rise'. It refers to the act of advancing in one's career or social status, usually through hard work and success. It implies moving up in an organization or field, achieving a higher position or greater recognition. For example: His hard work led to a rapid rise in the company - (彼の努力によって会社でのし上がりが早かった). She aims to rise through the ranks to become a manager - (彼女は課長になるまで出世することを目指している).

この世: "This world". The noun 'この世 (このよ)' refers to 'this world' or 'the present world'. It is used to describe the physical, tangible world that we live in, as opposed to the afterlife or spiritual realm. This term conveys a sense of the immediate, concrete reality that surrounds us. For example: I want to enjoy my life in this world - (この世を楽しみたい). He lives only for this world - (この世のためにしか生きない).

中世: "Middle Ages". The Japanese noun '中世 (ちゅうせい)' refers to the Middle Ages, the period of European history spanning from the 5th to the 15th century. In the context of Japanese history, '中世' generally describes the period from the 12th to the 16th century, when the country was dominated by feudal lords and samurai culture. This period is characterized by the rise of powerful shogunates, the increasing dominance of the warrior class, and the gradual centralization of political power. Examples: Europe in the Middle Ages - (中世のヨーロッパ). Japan entered the Middle Ages after the Kamakura period - (鎌倉時代の後、日本は中世に入った).

お世辞: "Compliment". The noun 'お世辞 (おせじ)' refers to a compliment or flattering words spoken to someone, often in order to please them or gain something from them. It implies that the compliment may not be entirely genuine or sincere. For example: She gave me many compliments, but I suspect they were just empty flattery - (彼女は私に数々のお世辞を言ったが、それは空虚なお世辞だったと思う).

世帯: "Household". The noun '世帯 (せたい)' refers to a household, or a group of people living together in the same dwelling. It can be used to describe the number of people in a home, or the overall composition and living situation of a family. For example: My household has 4 people - (私の世帯は4人です). The household of the elderly couple is small - (高齢夫婦の世帯は小さい).

世論: "Public opinion". The Japanese noun '世論 (よろん)' means 'public opinion'. This refers to the collective views and attitudes held by the general public on various issues, topics, or events. '世論' is an important concept in politics, media, and social discourse, as it can influence decision-making and shape societal trends. For example: Public opinion is against the new policy - (世論はその新しい政策に反対だ). The polls showed the public opinion was divided on the matter - (世論調査では、この問題に関する世論は分かれた).

近世: "Early modern". The Japanese noun '近世 (きんせい)' refers to the 'early modern' period in Japanese history, spanning from the 17th to the 19th century. This period is characterized by the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate and the gradual modernization of Japan. Example sentences: Japan entered the early modern period in the 17th century - (日本は17世紀に近世に入った). The Edo period is part of the early modern era in Japan - (江戸時代は日本の近世の一部である).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "よ" is read as "yo". The hiragana "せ" is read as "se". And The hiragana "い" is read as "i".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.