Japanese word

境

Pronunciation

Romajisakai

Meaning

  • nounborder

Example

この川が二つの国の境です。ko no kawa ga futa tsu no kuni no sakai de su

This river is the border between two countries.

Illustration for 境 (border)

More examples

昼と夜の境があいまいになっています。hiru to yoru no sakai ga a i ma i ni na tte i ma su

The boundary between day and night is becoming unclear.

Core concept

Defines the dividing point between separate places, areas, or kinds of things.

Common phrases

  • 境に立つsakai ni ta tsu

    stand at the boundary

  • 境を越すsakai o ko su

    cross a boundary

Similar words

境界kyōkai: A line or limit separating places, areas, or types of things, often in a formal or abstract sense.
境目sakaime: A point of transition between two places, areas, states, or kinds of things.

Definition in Japanese

異なる場所や領域の間を分ける線、または物事の範囲を限る区切り。koto na ru ba sho ya ryō iki no aida o wa ke ru sen ma ta wa mono goto no han i o kagi ru ku gi ri

Word origin

境 (sakai, "boundary") is a native Japanese word with the historical spelling さかひ (sakahi, "boundary"); the deeper origin of this word is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The contrast between border and boundary helps place 境 (sakai) in context: border often separates political areas, while boundary has a wider meaning.

Other meanings

  • boundarynoun

Word lists with this word