Readings: カイ (Onyomi), – (Kunyomi)
Meaning: world, boundary
The kanji 界 is a phonetic-semantic compound. It combines 田 (tián), representing a field or cultivated land, and 介 (jiè), which originally meant “to lie between” or “to separate,” also serving as a phonetic component. Together, it conveys the idea of boundaries or divisions within a defined space, like fields, leading to the meaning of “world” or “boundary.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 界 has 9 strokes. Start with the two vertical strokes in the middle of 田, followed by the horizontal strokes. Then complete the outer box, and finish with the two diagonal strokes and the final horizontal stroke for 介.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 田 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- カイ (kai)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- – (-)
Common Words Using 界
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 世界 | せかい | world |
| 限界 | げんかい | limit, boundary |
| 境界 | きょうかい | boundary, border |
| 業界 | ぎょうかい | industry |
| 政界 | せいかい | political world |
| 経済界 | けいざいかい | economic world |
| 学界 | がっかい | academic world |
| 芸能界 | げいのうかい | entertainment world |
| 財界 | ざいかい | financial world |
| 自然界 | しぜんかい | natural world |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 世界は広い。
Kana: せかいはひろい。
Romaji: Sekai wa hiroi.
English: The world is wide.
Japanese: 彼の限界を超えた。
Kana: かれのげんかいをこえた。
Romaji: Kare no genkai wo koeta.
English: He exceeded his limit.
Japanese: 新しい世界へようこそ。
Kana: あたらしいせかいへようこそ。
Romaji: Atarashii sekai e youkoso.
English: Welcome to a new world.
Japanese: 国境は国家間の境界です。
Kana: こっきょうはこっかかんのきょうかいです。
Romaji: Kokkyō wa kokka-kan no kyōkai desu.
English: National borders are boundaries between countries.
Japanese: この業界で働くのは大変です。
Kana: このぎょうかいではたらくのはたいへんです。
Romaji: Kono gyōkai de hataraku no wa taihen desu.
English: Working in this industry is tough.
Japanese: 私たちは同じ世界に住んでいます。
Kana: わたしたちはおなじせかいにすんでいます。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa onaji sekai ni sunde imasu.
English: We live in the same world.
Japanese: それは私の知っている世界とは違います。
Kana: それはわたしのしっているせかいとはちがいます。
Romaji: Sore wa watashi no shitteiru sekai to wa chigaimasu.
English: That’s different from the world I know.
Japanese: 彼の世界観はユニークだ。
Kana: かれのせかいかんはユニークだ。
Romaji: Kare no sekaikan wa yunīku da.
English: His worldview is unique.
Japanese: この本は異世界が舞台です。
Kana: このほんはいせかいがぶたいです。
Romaji: Kono hon wa isekai ga butai desu.
English: This book is set in another world.
Japanese: 自然界の法則は美しい。
Kana: しぜんかいのほうそくはうつくしい。
Romaji: Shizenkai no hōsoku wa utsukushii.
English: The laws of the natural world are beautiful.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.