How to say "society" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 社会しゃかいnounThe direct equivalent of 'society': an organized community or the sphere of shared public life. When you mean society in general — its structure, problems, or workings — this is the natural choice.
- 世界せかいnounPrimarily 'the world' — the earth, the nations, the world at large — and also 'the universe.' Its 'society' sense is secondary, so it is seldom the word you want for society as a social system.
- 世よnounMeans 'world' or 'society,' but it typically appears inside set phrases rather than standing alone, so it is seldom the standalone word you want for 'society' in ordinary contexts.
- 世の中よのなかexpression, nounSociety or the world as the everyday human world people live in, with an eye to the times; natural when talking about how things work or what life is like.
- 世間せけんnounSociety as other people — the public, the people around you whose opinions and judgment matter. The natural word for worrying about what society thinks or what people will say.
Choose 社会 for society as a community or system, 「世の中」 for the world people live in and the times, 世間 for the public and what people think; 世界 mostly means the world, and 世 lives on in set phrases.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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