世間(せけん)

せけん
noun
world, society, public
1. world, society, the public
The community of people one interacts with; the general public and its opinions.
世間(せけん)は狭(せま)いものだ。
It's a small world.
Common expression when unexpectedly meeting someone
世間(せけん)の目(め)を気(き)にしすぎる。
You worry too much about what others think.
世間(せけん)知(し)らずだと言(い)われた。
I was told I don't know the ways of the world.

世間(せけん) refers to society as experienced personally, emphasizing social perception and opinion.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 世間(せけん)は狭(せま)い (It's a small world)
  • 世間(せけん)の目(め) (public eye, what people think)
  • 世間(せけん)体(てい) (keeping up appearances)
  • 世間(せけん)話(ばなし) (small talk, gossip)
  • 世間(せけん)知(し)らず (naïve, ignorant of the world)

COMPARISON:

  • 世間(せけん): society (personal sphere, social judgment)
  • 社会(しゃかい): society (formal, institutional)
  • 世界(せかい): world (global, physical world)

Related Words

Contrast: 社会(しゃかい) (society (formal))
general
Added 2026.1.12 10:12 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
03000/03299_seken