Onyomi: セ, セイ, ソウ · Kunyomi: よ · Meanings: generation, public, society, world
Kanji for generation, public, society, world
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Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 世.
The kanji 世 originally depicted three horizontal lines connected by a vertical one, symbolizing generations or layers of people and time. It represents the idea of the world across different eras — the passing of generations, society, and the human world. Over time, 世 came to mean “world,” “generation,” or “society.”
Three layers of time — 世 means world, generation, or society.
Imagine three generations connected through time — that’s 世, the kanji for world and generations.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 世 | よ | world, society, public | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 世 | せい | counter for generations | Counter |
| 世界 | せかい | the world, society, the universe | common JLPT-N4 Noun |
| 世紀 | せいき | century | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 世代 | せだい | generation | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 世帯 | せたい | household, home, family, housekeeping | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 世話 | せわ | care, looking after, help, assistance, aid | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 世の中 | よのなか | society, the world, the times | common JLPT-N3 Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 世論 | よろん | public opinion, popular voice, public sentiment, consensus | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 世界大戦 | せかいたいせん | world war | common Noun |