世 (shì) - generation & world

世Tone 4

shì ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 一

上姝

世 · shì

generation;

world;

era;

lifetime;

age;

society

generationworldera

Usage highlights

worldgenerationcenturyworldly affairsworld viewhuman world

Synonyms

  • 代— generation, era
  • 界— world, realm
  • 人间— human world

Antonyms

  • 天— heaven (vs. earthly world)
  • 古— ancient (vs. modern world)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He comes from the older generation (老一辈).
  • We live in the modern world (现代世界).
  • This is a family heirloom passed down through generations (世代相传).
  • Ancient Greek civilization (古希腊文明).

Collocations

  • world(世界)
  • generation(世代)
  • century(世纪)
  • worldly affairs(世事)
  • world view(世界观)
  • human world(人世)

Idioms

  • To be worldly-wise and play safe(明哲保身)
  • Never seen before in history(举世无双)
  • To be known to all the world(举世闻名)
  • To be aloof from the world(与世无争)
  • To pass away(与世长辞)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, '世' represents continuity through generations and the temporal flow of human existence.
  • Buddhist concept of 'world' (世界) combines spatial (世) and temporal (界) dimensions.
  • Confucian emphasis on family lineage and generational succession.

FAQ