境界・疆界|きょうかいkyoukai[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Which spelling to use
境界境界 is the most common form and the recommended choice for learners; it is written entirely in kanji.
疆界疆界 is a rarely used form written entirely in kanji; learners will seldom encounter it and should generally choose 境界 instead.
Definitions
  1. nounboundary; border; limit; bounds; frontier
    彼かれらは境界きょうかいを越こえてスペインに入はいった。↗
    They crossed the border into Spain.
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym境目さかいめNeutralColloquial word for the point where two things meet or divide, as in 「生死の境目」; also used figuratively for a turning point.
  • Synonym境さかいNeutralColloquial word for a border between areas, as in 「国の境」; more conversational than 「境界」.
  • SynonymボーダーNeutralLoanword for a border, or for horizontal stripes, as in 「ボーダーのシャツ」.
  • SynonymボーダーラインNeutralLoanword for a dividing line, especially a passing cutoff, as in 「合格のボーダーライン」.
  • Synonym境界線きょうかいせんNeutralThe line that marks a boundary; used mostly for land and on maps, as in 「境界線を引く」.
  • Synonym境域きょういきWrittenWritten, formal word for the bounds of a territory or a domain; rare.
  • SynonymバウンダリーNeutralLoanword for a boundary; used mainly in psychology for personal boundaries, and uncommon in daily conversation.
  • Synonym分界ぶんかいWrittenWritten, formal term for dividing things with a boundary; rare.
  • RelatedリミットNeutralLoanword for a limit or maximum that must not be crossed, as in 「タイムリミット」; about ceilings and deadlines, not physical borders.
  • Related限界げんかいNeutralThe utmost limit of ability or endurance, as in 「体力の限界」; about how far one can go, not a line between two areas.
  • Related限りかぎりNeutralRead 「きり」, it means the end or limit of something, as in 「切りがない」; also written 「限り」. Unlike 「境界」, it is not a line between two things.
  • Antonym内部ないぶNeutralThe inside of something; the opposite of 「境界」 as an outer edge.
  • Antonym中央ちゅうおうNeutralThe center or middle; the opposite of 「境界」 as an outer edge.

Use 「境界」 for the line dividing land, domains or concepts; 「境界線」 names the line itself. In speech, 「境」 and 「境目」 are more colloquial. For the limits of ability say 「限界」, for a time limit 「リミット」, for a passing cutoff 「ボーダーライン」. 「バウンダリー」 is mostly psychology; 「ボーダー」 also means stripes; 「境域」 and 「分界」 are rare written words. Opposites: 「内部」, 「中央」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 物ものと物ものとの境さかい。疆界。極限きょくげん。
  2. 意識いしきと無意識むいしきの境さかい。識閾しきいき。marginalの訳わけ。
  3. 土地とちにおいて、2以上いじょうの者ものの所有権しょゆうけんを画かくする境さかい。古ふるくは「ケイカイ」と読よみ(現在げんざいでも、法曹ほうそう関係者かんけいしゃではこのように読よむ)、経界きょうかいとも書かかれた。
  4. ある位相いそう空間くうかんのある部分ぶぶん集合しゅうごうを考かんがえるとき、その部分ぶぶん集合しゅうごうの全すべての境界きょうかい点てんから成なる集合しゅうごう。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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