界(かい)

かい

noun, suffix

world; realm; sphere

1. world; realm; sphere; circle

A specific field, domain, or community of people sharing a common profession, interest, or characteristic. Often used as a suffix.

彼女(かのじょ)は芸能(げいのう)界(かい)で活躍(かつやく)している。

She is active in the entertainment world.

政界(せいかい)では大(おお)きな変化(へんか)があった。

There was a big change in the political world.

学会(がっかい)は学術(がくじゅつ)界(かい)の重要(じゅうよう)な集(あつ)まりだ。

Academic conferences are important gatherings in the scholarly world.

界(かい) is primarily used as a suffix meaning "world" or "realm" attached to a field, profession, or domain. It is rarely used as a standalone word.

Compounds

芸能(げいのう)界(かい): entertainment industry
政界(せいかい): the political world
財界(ざいかい): financial/business world
学界(がっかい): academic world
スポーツ界(かい): sports world
業(ぎょう)界(かい): industry (specific business sector)

Usage

The pattern is [field]界(かい) to refer to the community of people and institutions in that field. Some fields use a one-kanji short form: 政界(せいかい) (politics), 財界(ざいかい) (business), 学界(がっかい) (academia).

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Common in news reporting and formal writing when discussing professional fields.

general

Added 2026.2.3 11:58 · Revised 2026.10.4 9:21

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