Japanese word

世間

Pronunciation

Romajiseken

Meaning

  • nounthe public

Example

世間ではその話が話題になっています。se ken de wa so no hanashi ga wa dai ni na tte i ma su

People are talking about that story.

Illustration for 世間 (the public)

More examples

私は世間の目を気にしすぎないようにしています。watashi wa se ken no me o ki ni shi su gi na i yō ni shi te i ma su

I try not to worry too much about what people think.

Core concept

Refers to the broad human social world in which ordinary people live, interact, and form shared views.

Common phrases

  • 世間の目を気にするse ken no me o ki ni su ru

    care what people think

  • 世間に知られるse ken ni shi ra re ru

    be known to the public

Similar words

世の中yononaka: The people and social world around someone in everyday life.
社会shakai: The organized community of people and its shared systems and relationships.

Definition in Japanese

一般の人々や社会全体を指す語。また、そこで共有される考えや評判。ip pan no hito bito ya sha kai zen tai o sa su go ma ta so ko de kyō yū sa re ru kanga e ya hyō ban

Word origin

世間 (seken) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 世 (se, "world") and 間 (ken, "interval or space"), describing the human world as a shared social sphere.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 世間 (seken) often points to people in general or the social world, so it can describe public opinion rather than a formal institution.

Other meanings

  • societynoun
  • peoplenoun
  • worldnoun

Word lists with this word