Japanese word

境遇

Pronunciation

Romajikyōgū

Meaning

  • nouncircumstances

Example

彼は恵まれた境遇で育ちました。kare wa megu ma re ta kyō gū de soda chi ma shi ta

He grew up in favorable circumstances.

Illustration for 境遇 (circumstances)

More examples

似た境遇の人と話すと、気持ちが楽になります。ni ta kyō gū no hito to hana su to ki mo chi ga raku ni na ri ma su

Talking with someone in a similar situation makes me feel better.

Core concept

Describes the conditions surrounding a person that shape how life unfolds.

Common phrases

  • 恵まれた境遇megu ma re ta kyō gū

    favorable circumstances

  • 厳しい境遇kibi shi i kyō gū

    difficult circumstances

  • 境遇を変えるkyō gū o ka e ru

    change one's circumstances

Similar words

身の上minoue: The circumstances of a person's life, often including personal history.
環境kankyō: The physical or social setting that surrounds a person.
状況jōkyō: The state of affairs at a particular time.

Definition in Japanese

人が置かれている生活上の状態や、そこに影響する周囲の事情。hito ga o ka re te i ru sei katsu jō no jō tai ya so ko ni ei kyō su ru shū i no ji jō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 境遇 (kyōgū) combines 境 (kyō, "boundary or setting") and 遇 (gū, "to meet or be treated"), giving the sense of a person's life situation.

Usage tips

  • In English, circumstances is usually plural when it means the conditions surrounding a person's life, while environment more often points to the physical or social setting.

Other meanings

  • environmentnoun

Word lists with this word