Meaning and Usage
"世界" primarily means "world" referring to the Earth or the global community. It can also denote a specific social or professional sphere, such as "艺术界" (art world) or "商业世界" (business world).
Common Collocations
- 世界上 (in the world): used to talk about things existing globally.
- 环游世界 (travel around the world): a common phrase expressing the dream of global travel.
- 科技的发展改变了世界 (technology development changes the world): shows how "世界" can refer to the environment or conditions around us.
- [领域]界 (e.g., 艺术界, 商业世界): "界" attaches to indicate a particular field or community.
Usage Notes
When using "世界" to mean the Earth or global community, it often appears with 上 (shàng) to emphasize the global scope. When combined with 界 (jiè), it refers to a specific domain or sector, often professional or social. Avoid confusing "世界" with "世代" (generation) or "界限" (boundary), which have related but distinct meanings.
Register and Tone
"世界" is neutral and widely used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a common noun in everyday speech, media, and academic language.