世界
shì jiè HSK 3

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

世界很大。
Shìjiè hěn dà.
The world is very big.
我喜欢看世界地图。
Wǒ xǐhuan kàn shìjiè dìtú.
I like looking at world maps.
这个世界很美丽。
Zhège shìjiè hěn měilì.
This world is very beautiful.
这个世界很大。
Zhège shìjiè hěn dà.
This world is very big.
我爱这个世界。
Wǒ ài zhège shìjiè.
I love this world.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the characters down: 世 (shì) means 'generation' or 'era,' and 界 (jiè) means 'boundary' or 'realm.' Together, they form the 'boundary of eras'—think of it as the entire realm of human existence across time, i.e., the world.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register, used in both formal and informal contexts, and common in spoken and written Chinese. It frequently appears in discussions about geography, global affairs, culture, and abstract concepts like 'worldview' (世界观).

📖 Grammar Points

Often used with location markers like 上 (as in 世界上) to mean 'in the world.' It can be modified by adjectives, e.g., 美好世界 (beautiful world), and is common in phrases like 全世界的人 (people all over the world).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 世界 sometimes carries philosophical connotations, as in Buddhist contexts where it may refer to a realm of existence. It's also central in modern discourse about China's role in the world (中国与世界).

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 地球 (dìqiú), which specifically means the physical planet Earth, 世界 has a broader scope including human society and abstract realms. 国际 (guójì) means 'international,' focusing on relations between nations, while 世界 is more general.

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