世

世	U+4E16, 世 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E16

← 丕
[U+4E15]

CJK Unified Ideographs

丗 →
[U+4E17]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

世 (Kangxi radical 1, 一+4, 5 strokes, cangjie input 心廿 (PT), four-corner 4471₇, composition ⿻廿𠃊)

Derived characters

伳, 呭, 𪣅, 𡛶, 怈, 抴, 泄, 迣, 枻, 𬆑, 玴, 䄁, 朑, 𤤙, 𥅋, 𥹑, 紲(绁), 袣, 𦐕, 𮎉, 𮓽, 𬡽, 詍, 𧺿, 跇, 𣫸, 鉪, 靾, 齛
𢺿, 㰥, 𦐞, 屉, 𢇸, 𦭓, 疶, 𬙚, 𫢫, 笹, 髰, 枼, 𭁫, 𬔛, 𠁀, 𭁯, 𧉺, 貰(贳), 𩊈, 屜

Descendants

せ (Hiragana character derived from man'yōgana)
セ (Katakana character derived from man'yōgana)

Chinese

simp. and trad.		世
alternative forms		丗 ancient 卋㔺𠀍𠦔丗 ancient 卋㔺𠀍𠦔𬆑

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 世

Western Zhou

Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)

Liushutong (compiled in Ming)

Bronze inscriptions

Small seal script

Transcribed ancient scripts

**Bronze inscriptions**
b02948	b02949	b02950	b02951	b02952	b02953	b02954	b02955
b02956	b02957	b02958	b02959	b02960	b02961	b02962	b02963
b02964	b02965	b02966	b02967	b02968	b02969	b02970	b02971
b02972

**Small seal script**
s01647

**Transcribed ancient scripts**
L35781	L35782	L35783	L35784	L35785	L35786	L35787	L35788
L35789	L35790	L35791	L35792	L35793	L19868	L19869	L19870
L19871	L19872	L19873	L19874	L19875	L19876	L19877	L19878
L19879	L19880	L19881	L19882	L19883	L19884	L19885

References:

Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation),
which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:

Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (世) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
貰	ɦljebs, hljebs
跇	l̥ʰebs, lebs
迣	*ʔljebs
世	*hljebs
泄	lebs, sled
枻	*lebs
詍	*lebs
靾	*lebs
袣	*lebs
抴	lebs, led
呭	*lebs
勩	lebs, libs
屜	*l̥ʰeːbs
鰈	l̥ʰaːb, l'eːb
渫	zreːb, sled
煠	zreːb, l̥ʰeb, *leb
喋	rlaːb, ʔl'eːb, *l'eːb
鞢	rlaːb, sleːb
殜	l'eb, leb, *lab
葉	hljeb, leb
弽	hljeb, hleːb
韘	hljeb, sleːb
枼	*leb
楪	*leb
揲	leb, l'eːb, *ɦljed
鍱	*leb
偞	leb, hleːb
蝶	l̥ʰeːb, l'eːb
牒	*l'eːb
蹀	*l'eːb
諜	*l'eːb
堞	*l'eːb
牃	*l'eːb
褋	*l'eːb
惵	*l'eːb
碟	*l'eːb
屧	*sleːb
屟	*sleːb
紲	*sled
齛	*sled
疶	*sled
緤	*sled
媟	*sled

Pictogram (象形) – three leaves on a branch. The derivative 葉 (OC *hljeb, *leb) refers to the original word.
Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : Triplication of 十 (“ten”) - thirty, such as a variant form 丗. Thirty years make one generation (thirty times twelve months gives 360 months). Compare 廿 (OC *njɯb, “twenty”).

Etymology

世 (OC *hljebs) is derived from iterative devoicing of 葉 (OC *leb, “leaf”) + *-s suffix, meaning successive foliages of a tree > generations. Compare Tibetan ལོ་མ (lo ma, “leaf”), Western Tibetan ལོབ་མ (lob ma, “leaf”) and Tibetan ལོ (lo, “year”).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): shì (shi⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄕˋ
(Chengdu, SP): si⁴
(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): шы (šɨ, III)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): sai³
(Taishan, Wiktionary): sai¹
Gan (Wiktionary): si⁴
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): sṳ
(Meixian, Guangdong): si⁴
Jin (Wiktionary): si³
Min Bei (KCR): si̿
Min Dong (BUC): sié
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): sì / sè
(Teochew, Peng'im): si³
Wu (Wiktionary): sr (T2)
Xiang (Wiktionary): shr⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: shì
  - Zhuyin: ㄕˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: shìh
  - Wade–Giles: shih⁴
  - Yale: shr̀
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyh
  - Palladius: ши (ši)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩⁵¹/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: si⁴
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: s
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²¹³/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: шы (šɨ, III)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩⁴⁴/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: sai³
  - Yale: sai
  - Cantonese Pinyin: sai³
  - Guangdong Romanization: sei³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɐi̯³³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: sai¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sai³³/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: si⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ
  - Hakka Romanization System: sii
  - Hagfa Pinyim: si⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /sɨ⁵⁵/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: si⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /sz̩⁵³/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: si³
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /sz̩⁴⁵/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: si̿
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /si³³/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: sié
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /siɛ²¹³/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sì
  - Tâi-lô: sì
  - Phofsit Daibuun: six
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung): /ɕi²¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /ɕi¹¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /ɕi⁴¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sè
  - Tâi-lô: sè
  - Phofsit Daibuun: sex
  - IPA (Xiamen, Kaohsiung): /se²¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /se¹¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /se⁴¹/

Note:

Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taiwan:
- sì - vernacular;
- sè - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: si³
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sì
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /si²¹³/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: sr (T2)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁴/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: shr⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂʐ̩⁴⁵/
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /sz̩⁴⁵/

Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 世
Mandarin	Beijing	/ʂʐ̩⁵¹/
	Harbin	/ʂʐ̩⁵³/
	Tianjin	/ʂʐ̩⁵³/
	Jinan	/ʂʐ̩²¹/
	Qingdao	/ʃz̩⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/ʂʐ̩³¹²/
	Xi'an	/ʂʐ̩⁴⁴/
	Xining	/ʂʐ̩²¹³/
	Yinchuan	/ʂʐ̩¹³/
	Lanzhou	/ʂʐ̩¹³/
	Ürümqi	/ʂʐ̩²¹³/
	Wuhan	/sz̩³⁵/
	Chengdu	/sz̩¹³/
	Guiyang	/sz̩²¹³/
	Kunming	/ʂʐ̩²¹²/
	Nanjing	/ʂʐ̩⁴⁴/
	Hefei	/ʂʐ̩⁵³/
Jin	Taiyuan	/sz̩⁴⁵/
	Pingyao	/ʂʐ̩³⁵/
	Hohhot	/sz̩⁵⁵/
Wu	Shanghai	/sz̩³⁵/
	Suzhou	/sz̩ʷ⁵¹³/
	Hangzhou	/sz̩⁴⁴⁵/
	Wenzhou	/sei⁴²/
Hui	Shexian	/ɕi³²⁴/
Hui	Tunxi	/ɕie⁴²/ /ɕi¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/
Gan	Nanchang	/sz̩⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/sz̩⁵³/
Hakka	Taoyuan	/ʃï⁵⁵/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/sɐi³⁵/
	Nanning	/sɐi³³/
	Hong Kong	/sɐi³³/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/se²¹/ /si²¹/ /sua²¹/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/siɛ²¹²/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/si³³/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/si²¹³/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/ti³⁵/

Middle Chinese: /ɕiᴇi^H/

Rime
Character	世
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	書 (26)
Final (韻)	祭 (35)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	舒制切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɕiᴇi^H/
Pan Wuyun	/ɕiɛi^H/
Shao Rongfen	/ɕjæi^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɕiaj^H/
Li Rong	/ɕiɛi^H/
Wang Li	/ɕĭɛi^H/
Bernard Karlgren	/ɕi̯ɛi^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	sai³

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*l̥ap-s/
(Zhengzhang): /*hljebs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	世
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shì
Middle Chinese	‹ syej^H ›
Old Chinese	/*l̥ap-s/
English	generation
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	世
Reading #	1/1
No.	11537
Phonetic component	世
Rime group	蓋
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	丗
Old Chinese	/*hljebs/
Notes	本枼葉初文（文源）

Definitions

世

generation
世代 ― shìdài ― generation
德皇威廉二世 ― déhuáng Wēilián èr shì ― Kaiser Wilhelm II
- 子曰：「如有王者，必世而後仁。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  子曰：“如有王者，必世而后仁。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Zǐ yuē: “Rú yǒu wángzhě, bì shì ér hòu rén.” [Pinyin]
  The Master said, "If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would still require a generation, and then virtue would prevail."
(literary, or in compounds) for many generations; spanning many generations
世襲／世袭 ― shìxí ― to inherit; to succeed
世仇 ― shìchóu ― hereditary enemy
- 下武維周，世有哲王。三后在天，王配于京。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  下武维周，世有哲王。三后在天，王配于京。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Xià wǔ wéi Zhōu, shì yǒu zhé wáng. Sān hòu zài tiān, wáng pèi yú jīng. [Pinyin]
  Successors tread in the steps [of their predecessors] in our Zhou; for generations there had been wise kings. The three sovereigns were in heaven; and king [Wu] was their worthy successor in his capital.
(in terms of address) longstanding friendship between two families; generations of family friendship
世伯 ― shìbó ― uncle (friend of one's father)
lifetime; all one's life; one's whole life
一生一世 ― yīshēngyīshì ― all one's life
下世 [Cantonese] ― haa⁶ sai³ [Jyutping] ― next life
era; period; time
當今之世／当今之世 ― dāngjīn zhī shì ― at present; nowadays
- 鴻荒之世，聖人惡之，是以法始乎伏犠而成乎堯。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  鸿荒之世，圣人恶之，是以法始乎伏犠而成乎尧。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Yang Xiong, Fa Yan (Exemplary Sayings), 9 CE
  Hónghuāng zhī shì, shèngrén wù zhī, shìyǐ fǎ shǐ hū Fúxī ér chéng hū Yáo. [Pinyin]
  The sages hated the primeval time. Thus, laws and institutions were established by Fuxi and were completed by Yao.
(geology) epoch (geochronologic unit)
全新世 ― quánxīnshì ― holocene
world; people in the world
世界 ― shìjiè ― world
在世 ― zàishì ― alive
- 世稱東方生之盛也，言不純師，行不純表，其流風、遺書，蔑如也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  世称东方生之盛也，言不纯师，行不纯表，其流风、遗书，蔑如也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Yang Xiong, Fa Yan (Exemplary Sayings), 9 CE
  Shì chēng Dōngfāng shēng zhī shèng yě, yán bù chún shī, xíng bù chún biǎo, qí liúfēng, yíshū, mièrú yě. [Pinyin]
  The world lauds the exuberance of Dongfang Shuo's life. But in speaking, he was not sincere enough to be a teacher, and in action, he was not a sincere enough to be a role model. The remnants of his writings that are still floating around should be discarded.
(literary, or in compounds) dynasty; regime
- 問今是何世，乃不知有漢，無論魏晉。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  问今是何世，乃不知有汉，无论魏晋。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Peach Blossom Spring (桃花源記), by Tao Yuanming, 421 (Wiktionary translation)
  Wèn jīn shì hé shì, nǎi bùzhī yǒu Hàn, wúlùn Wèi Jìn. [Pinyin]
  They asked what the current ruling dynasty was. Surprisingly, they had not even heard of the Han, let alone the Wei and the Jin.
- 爰自麗世之季，及至我朝之初，屢經島夷之陸梁，寺亦焚燬。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]
  From: Former inscription at Gunjasa Temple, Hamyang County, 1684
  원자여세지계^(로) 급지아조지초^(히) 누경도이지육량^(하야) 사역분훼^(라)
  Won ja Yeo se ji gye[-ro], geupji ajo ji cho[-hi], nu gyeong doi ji yungnyang[-haya], sa yeok bunhwe[-ra]. [Sino-Korean]
  From the end of the Goryeo dynasty to the early years of the present dynasty, [the area] suffered repeated incursions by the island savages, and the temple was also burnt and destroyed.
(literary, or in compounds) year; age
(literary, or in compounds) worldly; profane; secular
人情世故 ― rénqíngshìgù ― ways of the world
a surname

Synonyms

(generation): 代 (dài)
(for many generations):

edit

世代 (shìdài) (literary)
仍世 (réngshì) (literary)

代代 (dàidài) (literary)
祖代 (zǔdài) (literary)

累世 (lěishì) (literary)
累代 (lěidài) (literary)

(lifetime):

edit

Synonyms of 世

一世 (yīshì)
一生 (yīshēng)
一生一世 (yīshēngyīshì)
平生 (píngshēng)
永世 (yǒngshì)

永生 (yǒngshēng)
生平 (shēngpíng)
一輩子／一辈子 (yībèizi) (colloquial)
沒世／没世 (mòshì)

畢生／毕生 (bìshēng)
終生／终生 (zhōngshēng)
終身／终身 (zhōngshēn)
輩子／辈子 (bèizi)

(era):

edit

Synonyms of 世

世代 (shìdài) (literary)
年代 (niándài)
朝代 (cháodài)
光陰／光阴 (guāngyīn) (Dungan)

年候兒／年候儿 (niánhour) (Beijing)
年歲／年岁 (niánsuì)
年華／年华 (niánhuá)

時代／时代 (shídài)
時期／时期 (shíqī)
歲月／岁月 (suìyuè)

(world):

edit

世界 (shìjiè)
四海 (sìhǎi) (literary, figurative)
域中 (yùzhōng) (literary)

天下 (tiānxià) (literary, figurative)
天跤下 (Min Nan, figurative)
薄海 (bóhǎi) (literary, figurative)

區宇／区宇 (qūyǔ) (literary, figurative)
四國／四国 (sìguó) (literary)
宇內／宇内 (yǔnèi) (literary, figurative)

(dynasty):

edit

Synonyms of 世

公家 (gōngjiā)
公庭 (gōngtíng)
朝廷 (cháotíng)
王室 (wángshì)

王家 (wángjiā)
王朝 (wángcháo)
皇室 (huángshì)
皇朝 (huángcháo)

上國／上国 (shàngguó) (as termed by vassal states)
中國／中国 (zhōngguó) (archaic)
國家／国家 (guójiā) (Classical Chinese)

Compounds

Derived terms from 世

一世 (yīshì)
三世
上世 (shàngshì)
上新世 (Shàngxīnshì)
下世 (xiàshì)
不世 (bùshì)
不偶世
世上 (shìshàng)
世世代代 (shìshìdàidài)
世主 (shìzhǔ)
世事 (shìshì)
世交 (shìjiāo)
世人 (shìrén)
世仇 (shìchóu)
世代 (shìdài)
世伯 (shìbó)
世俗 (shìsú)
世儒
世兄 (shìxiōng)
世典
世及
世叔
世味
世嗣宦族
世外桃源 (shìwàitáoyuán)
世好 (shìhǎo)
世子 (shìzǐ)
世家 (shìjiā)
世尊 (Shìzūn)
世局 (shìjú)
世居 (shìjū)
世弟
世德 (shìdé)
世情 (shìqíng)
世故 (shìgù)
世教
世族 (shìzú)
世母
世法
世海他人
世父 (shìfù)
世牒
世界 (shìjiè)
世系 (shìxì)
世胄 (shìzhòu)
世胙
世表
世衰道微 (shìshuāidàowēi)
世路
世道 (shìdào)
世面 (shìmiàn)
中世 (Zhōngshì)
中新世
九世之仇 (jiǔshìzhīchóu)
二世 (èrshì)
五世其昌
人世 (rénshì)
今世 (jīnshì)
傲世 (àoshì)
元世祖
先世 (xiānshì)
入世 (rùshì)
再世
冠世之才
出世 (chūshì)
前世 (qiánshì)
化世
半世 (bànshì)
即世 (jíshì)
去世 (qùshì)
叔世 (shūshì)
古新世
名世
命世 (mìngshì)
喻世明言
在世 (zàishì)
夙世冤家
大同之世
夷世
奕世
媚世 (mèishì)
季世 (jìshì)
家世 (jiāshì)
宿世
就世

希世
平世
幻世
度世
御世 (yùshì)
忿世嫉俗
忿世嫉邪
慢世
故世 (gùshì)
救世 (jiùshì)
明世 (míngshì)
晚世
暮世
末世 (mòshì)
欺世惑俗
欺世罔俗
永世 (yǒngshì)
治世 (zhìshì)
泉世 (quánshì)
浮世 (fúshì)
涉世 (shèshì)
淑世
混世魔王
清世 (qīngshì)
玩世 (wánshì)
生生世世
用世
百世 (bǎishì)
盛世 (shèngshì)
稀世 (xīshì)
立世
累世 (lěishì)
背世
衰世
警世 (jǐngshì)
超世之才
超世拔俗
身世 (shēnshì)
迍邅之世
近世 (jìnshì)
逃世
逝世 (shìshì)
逢世
逸世超群
遁世 (dùnshì)
避世 (bìshì)
邪世 (xiéshì)
醒世 (xǐngshì)
重世
降世 (jiàngshì)
隔世 (géshì)
面世 (miànshì)
高世
世侄
辟世
世傳／世传 (shìchuán)
世務／世务 (shìwù)
世婦／世妇 (shìfù)
世恩錄／世恩录
世態／世态 (shìtài)
世新大學／世新大学
世業／世业 (shìyè)
世紀／世纪 (shìjì)
世綵堂／世彩堂
世臺／世台
世襲／世袭 (shìxí)
世說新語／世说新语 (Shìshuōxīnyǔ)
世誼／世谊
世論／世论 (shìlùn)
世講／世讲
世譜／世谱
世變／世变 (shìbiàn)
世貿中心／世贸中心
世運／世运 (Shìyùn)
世醫／世医 (shìyī)
世間／世间 (shìjiān)
世風／世风 (shìfēng)
並世／并世 (bìngshì)
亂世／乱世 (luànshì)
五濁惡世／五浊恶世
來世／来世 (láishì)
偷世竊名／偷世窃名
傳世／传世 (chuánshì)
傾世／倾世 (qīngshì)
兩世姻緣／两世姻缘

公諸於世／公诸于世 (gōngzhūyúshì)
創世／创世 (chuàngshì)
勸世／劝世 (quànshì)
厭世／厌世 (yànshì)
厲世摩鈍／厉世摩钝
問世／问世 (wènshì)
塵世／尘世 (chénshì)
夙世因緣／夙世因缘
後世／后世 (hòushì)
怨世罵時／怨世骂时
惑世盜名／惑世盗名
憤世／愤世
應世／应世
才為世出／才为世出
敦世厲俗／敦世厉俗
時世／时世 (shíshì)
時移世易／时移世易 (shíyíshìyì)
時移世異／时移世异
時移世變／时移世变
晻世／暗世
曠世／旷世 (kuàngshì)
曲學阿世／曲学阿世
棄世／弃世 (qìshì)
欺世亂俗／欺世乱俗
欺世盜名／欺世盗名 (qīshìdàomíng)
欺世釣譽／欺世钓誉
沒世／没世 (mòshì)
洪積世／洪积世
流傳於世／流传于世
渾世／浑世
濁世／浊世 (zhuóshì)
濟世／济世 (jìshì)
濟時拯世／济时拯世
無補於世／无补于世
現世／现世 (xiànshì)
當世／当世 (dāngshì)
疾世憤俗／疾世愤俗
盜名欺世／盗名欺世
盡世／尽世
知人論世／知人论世
矯世／矫世
絕世／绝世 (juéshì)
經世／经世 (jīngshì)
緯世／纬世
繫世／系世
老世陳／老世陈 (Lǎoshìchén)
聞名於世／闻名于世 (wénmíngyúshì)
與世俯仰／与世俯仰
與世偃仰／与世偃仰
與世沉浮／与世沉浮
與世浮沉／与世浮沉
與世無爭／与世无争 (yǔshìwúzhēng)
與世長辭／与世长辞 (yǔshìchángcí)
與世靡爭／与世靡争
舉世／举世 (jǔshì)
華胥世／华胥世
萬世／万世 (wànshì)
蓋世／盖世 (gàishì)
處世／处世 (chǔshì)
見世報／见世报
覺世／觉世
觀世音／观世音 (Guānshìyīn)
詭辭欺世／诡辞欺世
謝世／谢世 (xièshì)
譁世取寵／哗世取宠
超世絕俗／超世绝俗
超世絕倫／超世绝伦
輕世傲物／轻世傲物
轉世／转世 (zhuǎnshì)
辭世／辞世 (císhì)
過世／过世 (guòshì)
違世遁俗／违世遁俗
遯世／遁世
遺世／遗世 (yíshì)
邁世／迈世
釣名欺世／钓名欺世
長世／长世
閱世／阅世
陰世／阴世
陽世／阳世 (yángshì)
隨世沉浮／随世沉浮
離世／离世 (líshì)
風世勵俗／风世励俗
驚世駭俗／惊世骇俗 (jīngshìhàisú)

Japanese

Kanji

世

(grade 3 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

Go-on: せ (se, Jōyō)
Kan-on: せい (sei, Jōyō)
Kun: よ (yo, 世, Jōyō)
Nanori: とし (toshi); ゆ (yu); ゆき (yuki)

Compounds

世(せ)界(かい) (sekai)
世(せい)紀(き) (seiki)
世(せ)辞(じ) (seji)
永(えい)世(せい) (eisei)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
世
よ Grade: 3
kun’yomi

⟨yo₂⟩ → /yo/

From Old Japanese, pronunciation is distinct from 夜 (/yo₁/, “night, nighttime”).

Change in meaning of 節 (yo), in the sense of the bamboos and reeds bulging at certain intervals.[1]

Alternative forms

代

Pronunciation

Kun’yomi

(Tokyo) よ [yóꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])[1]
(Tokyo) よ [yò] (Heiban – [0])[1]
IPA^(key): [jo̞]

Noun

世(よ) • (yo)

world, society
this world, this life
Synonym: 俗世間 (zoku seken)
generation, age, era
lifetime
Synonym: 一生 (isshō)
lifespan
Synonym: 寿命 (jumyō)
time of year, season
Synonyms: 時節 (jisetsu), 時期 (jiki), 折 (ori)
relationship between a man and a woman
period of a person leading as a patriarch (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)

Derived terms

神(かみ)世(よ) (kamiyo)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
世
せい Grade: 3
on’yomi

From Middle Chinese 世 (MC ɕiᴇi^H). The kan'on reading, so likely a later borrowing.

Counter

世(せい) • (-sei)

generation
ルパン三(さん)世(せい)
Rupan-sansei
Lupin the Third

Suffix

世(せい) • (-sei)

(geology) epoch

Proper noun

世(せい) • (Sei)

a female given name

References

2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 世 (MC ɕiᴇi^H).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	솅〮 (Yale: syéy)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
Text	*Gloss (hun)*	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527	누리〮 (Yale: nwùlí)	셰〯 (Yale: syěy)
Sinjeung Yuhap, 1576	인간 (Yale: inkan)	셰 (Yale: syey)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰe̞(ː)]
Phonetic hangul: [세(ː)]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource世 (eumhun 인간(人間) 세 (in'gan se))

Hanja form^? of 세 (“world”).
Hanja form^? of 세 (“lineage; generation”).

Compounds

세가 (世家, sega)
세간 (世間, segan)
세계 (世界, segye)
세기 (世紀, segi)
세대 (世代, sedae)
세도 (世道, sedo)
세로 (世路, sero)
세사 (世事, sesa)
세상 (世上, sesang)
세상 (世相, sesang)
세속 (世俗, sesok)
세습 (世襲, seseup)
세자 (世子, seja)
세정 (世情, sejeong)
세조 (世祖, Sejo)
세종 (世宗, Sejong)
세칭 (世稱, seching)
세태 (世態, setae)
세파 (世波, sepa)
세평 (世評, sepyeong)
개세 (慨世, gaese)
개세 (蓋世, gaese)
거세 (擧世, geose)
격세 (隔世, gyeokse)
경세 (經世, gyeongse)
근세 (近世, geunse)
금세 (今世, geumse)
기세 (棄世, gise)
기세 (欺世, gise)
난세/란세 (亂世, nanse/ranse)
내세/래세 (來世, naese/raese)
누세/루세 (累世, nuse/ruse)
도세 (渡世, dose)
돈세 (遯世, donse)
둔세 (遁世, dunse)
별세 (別世, byeolse)
사세 (斯世, sase)
섭세 (涉世, seopse)
성세 (盛世, seongse)
속세 (俗世, sokse)
시세 (時世, sise)
신세 (身世, sinse)
아세 (阿世, ase)
염세 (厭世, yeomse)
위세 (緯世, wise)
이세 (二世, ise)
일세 (一世, ilse)
절세 (絶世, jeolse)
제세 (濟世, jese)
조세 (早世, jose)
중세 (中世, jungse)
진세 (塵世, jinse)
처세 (處世, cheose)
치세 (治世, chise)
피세 (避世, pise)
행세 (行世, haengse)
혁세 (奕世, hyeokse)
현세 (現世, hyeonse)
후세 (後世, huse)
희세 (希世, huise)
희세 (稀世, huise)
세계관 (世界觀, segyegwan)
세계어 (世界語, segyeeo)
세계적 (世界的, segyejeok)
세기말 (世紀末, segimal)
세상사 (世上事, sesangsa)
세속적 (世俗的, sesokjeok)
관세음 (觀世音, gwanseeum)
구세군 (救世軍, gusegun)
구세주 (救世主, guseju)
불세출 (不世出, bulsechul)
신세대 (新世代, sinsedae)
왕세손 (王世孫, wangseson)
왕세자 (王世子, wangseja)
은세계 (銀世界, eunsegye)
일세기 (一世紀, ilsegi)
창세기 (創世記, changsegi)
처세술 (處世術, cheosesul)
처세훈 (處世訓, cheosehun)
기개세 (氣蓋世, gigaese)
여세마둔 (厲世摩鈍, yeosemadun)
염세주의 (厭世主義, yeomsejuui)
기성세대 (旣成世代, giseongsedae)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Okinawan

Kanji

世

(grade 3 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

On: し (shi)
Kun: ゆー (yū, 世)

Compounds

アメリカ世 (ゆー) (amerika-yū): American era or rule over the Okinawan Islands
戦 (いくさ)世 (ゆー) (ikusayū): wartime, war era, war period
世 (し)界 (けー) (shikē): world, society
大和 (やまとぅ)世 (ゆー) (yamatu-yū): Japanese era or rule over the Okinawan Islands

Etymology

Kanji in this term
世
ゆー Grade: 3
kun’yomi

Cognate with mainland Japanese 世 (yo).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [juː]

Noun

世 (hiragana ゆー, rōmaji yū)

age, era, period, time; rule
world, society

Derived terms

アメリカ世 (ゆー) (amerika-yū): American era or rule over the Okinawan Islands
戦 (いくさ)世 (ゆー) (ikusayū): wartime, war era, war period
大和 (やまとぅ)世 (ゆー) (yamatu-yū): Japanese era or rule over the Okinawan Islands

References

“ゆー【世】” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.

Vietnamese

Han character

世: Hán Việt readings: thế
世: Nôm readings: thế, thá, thé, thể

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

References

Nom Foundation

[DJR-1] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

世

Translingual

Han character

Derived characters

Descendants

Further reading

Chinese

Glyph origin

Etymology

Pronunciation

Definitions

Synonyms

Compounds

Japanese

Kanji

Readings

Compounds

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Counter

Suffix

Proper noun

References

Korean

Etymology

Pronunciation

Hanja

Compounds

References

Okinawan

Kanji

Readings

Compounds

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

References

Vietnamese

Han character

References