What does 界 mean in Japanese?
界 means “world, boundary” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 世界 (world), 業界 (industry), and 境界 (boundary).
For learners, the key is to study 界 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: カイ (kai)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 界 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
界 is not limited to one English translation. In 世界 (せかい), it means world; in 業界 (ぎょうかい), it points to industry; and in 境界 (きょうかい), it is used for boundary. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 世界（せかい / sekai） — world
- 業界（ぎょうかい / gyōkai） — industry
- 境界（きょうかい / kyōkai） — boundary
- 外界（がいかい / gaikai） — outside world
- 学界（がっかい / gakkai） — academic world
- 視界（しかい / shikai） — field of vision
Example Sentences
-
世界には多くの国があります。
せかいにはおおくのくにがあります。 / Sekai ni wa ōku no kuni ga arimasu.
There are many countries in the world.
-
境界線を越えないでください。
きょうかいせんをこえないでください。 / Kyōkaisen o koenaide kudasai.
Please do not cross the boundary line.
-
音楽界で有名な人です。
おんがくかいでゆうめいなひとです。 / Ongakukai de yūmei na hito desu.
He is famous in the music world.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 世界 (せかい / sekai) because it keeps the core meaning of 界 clear. Then add 業界 and 境界 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 界 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
界 means “world, boundary” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 世界, 業界, and 境界.