世界

Chinese

		life; age; generation life; age; generation; era; world; lifetime	boundary; scope; extent boundary; scope; extent; circles; group; kingdom (taxonomy)
simp. and trad. (世界)		世	界

Etymology

Coined by Buddhist translator Kumārajīva (c. 5th century), translating Sanskrit लोकधातु (lokadhātu, “region or part of the world”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shìjiè

  (Zhuyin): ㄕˋ ㄐㄧㄝˋ

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): шыҗе (šɨži͡ə, III-III)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sai³ gaai³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): sai¹ gai¹

• Hakka (Sixian, PFS): sṳ-kie / sṳ-kiai
• Min Dong (BUC): sié-gái
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): sè-kài / sì-kài

  (Teochew, Peng'im): si³ gai³

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Shanghainese): ⁵sy-ka
• Xiang (Wiktionary): shr⁴ gai⁴

---

• 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: shih⁴-chieh⁵
    • Yale: shr̀-jye
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyh.jieh
    • Palladius: шицзе (šicze)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/ → /ʂʐ̩⁵¹ d͡ʑ̥i̯ɛ¹/
    • Homophones:

      [Show/Hide]
      edit edit 世界 事界 視界／视界

  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: шыҗе (šɨži͡ə, III-III)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩⁴⁴ t͡ɕiə⁴⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: sai³ gaai³
    • Yale: sai gaai
    • Cantonese Pinyin: sai³ gaai³
    • Guangdong Romanization: sei³ gai³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: sai¹ gai¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sai³³ kai³³/
• Hakka
  • (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ-kie
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii gie
    • Hagfa Pinyim: si⁴ gie⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ⁵⁵ ki̯e⁵⁵/
  • (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ-kiai
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii giai
    • Hagfa Pinyim: si⁴ giai⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ⁵⁵ ki̯ai̯⁵⁵/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: sié-gái
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sie²¹³⁻⁵³ ^(k-)ɑi²¹³/
• Min Nan
  • (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): /ɕi²¹⁻⁵³ kai²¹/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: si³ gai³
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sì kài
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si²¹³⁻⁵⁵ kai²¹³/
• Wu
  • (Shanghainese)
    • Wugniu: ⁵sy-ka
    • Wiktionary Romanisation: ²sr-ka
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³³ ka⁴⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: shr⁴ gai⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂʐ̩⁴⁵ kai⁴⁵/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /sz̩⁴⁵ kai⁴⁵/

---

• 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	/ɕiᴇiH/	/kˠɛiH/
Pan Wuyun	/ɕiɛiH/	/kᵚæiH/
Shao Rongfen	/ɕjæiH/	/kɐiH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɕiajH/	/kəɨjH/
Li Rong	/ɕiɛiH/	/kɛiH/
Wang Li	/ɕĭɛiH/	/kɐiH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ɕi̯ɛiH/	/kăiH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shì	jiè
Expected Cantonese Reflex	sai3	gaai3

Noun

世界

1. 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

   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

   世界第一大經濟體 [MSC, trad.]
   世界第一大经济体 [MSC, simp.]

   shìjiè dìyīdà jīngjìtǐ [Pinyin]

   world's biggest economy

   列為世界文化遺產 [MSC, trad.]
   列为世界文化遗产 [MSC, simp.]

   lièwéi shìjiè wénhuàyíchǎn [Pinyin]

   to list as a world cultural heritage site

   世界之大，無奇不有。 [MSC, trad.]
   世界之大，无奇不有。 [MSC, simp.]

   Shìjiè zhī dà, wúqíbùyǒu. [Pinyin]

   The world is so big that nothing is too bizarre.

   世界上唯一不變的就是變化。 [MSC, trad.]
   世界上唯一不变的就是变化。 [MSC, simp.]

   Shìjiè shàng wéiyī bùbiàn de jiùshì biànhuà. [Pinyin]

   The only constant in the world is change.

   中國高鐵的發展領先世界。 [MSC, trad.]
   中国高铁的发展领先世界。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhōngguó gāotiě de fāzhǎn lǐngxiān shìjiè. [Pinyin]

   China is leading the world in high-speed rail.

2. (tarot) the World
3. (Buddhism) realm governed by a buddha
4. (Buddhism) space, universe
5. (Shanghainese Wu) place, territory

   一天世界  ―  4iq thi sr ka  ―  a mess

Synonyms

• 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 (Min Nan, figurative)
• 宇內／宇内 (yǔnèi) (literary, figurative)
• 薄海 (bóhǎi) (literary, figurative)

 

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
• 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

Sino-Xenic (世界):

• → 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

Adverb

世界

1. (Taiwanese Hokkien) extremely; super

   世界甜 [Taiwanese Hokkien]  ―  sè-kài tiⁿ [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]  ―  super sweet

   • 對你世界好　不通擱再嫌 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
     对你世界好　不通搁再嫌 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

     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

• “Entry #1355”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

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 modern Hokkien reading sè-kài.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) せ​かい [séꜜkàì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [se̞ka̠i]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

世(せ)界(かい) • (sekai) 

1. 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…………。

     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….

     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‼

     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.

2. 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.

3. society, the times

   Synonyms: 世間 (seken), 世の中 (yo no naka)

4. 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

5. (Buddhism) the four inner realms of 須弥山 (Shumisen)
6. (Buddhism) realm governed by a buddha
7. (Buddhism) space, universe
8. (tarot) the World

Derived terms

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

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

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) 

1. a female given name
2. a surname

References

• 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)

1. Hanja form^? of 세계 (“world”).

Okinawan

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 世界 (ɕiᴇiH kˠɛiH). Cognate with Japanese 世界(せかい) (sekai).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɕikeː/

Noun

世界(しけー) (shikē) 

1. world, society

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
世	界

Noun

世界

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