社会（しゃかい、shakai）
- society

The Japanese word 社会 (しゃかい) primarily means "society," "community," or "the world." It refers to a group of people living together in an organized way, sharing common customs, laws, and institutions. It encompasses the relationships between individuals and groups, as well as the structures and systems that govern their interactions. The meaning of 社会 can vary depending on context, ranging from a broad concept of human civilization to a more specific focus on a particular group or organization.

⚫︎ 日本社会 Translation: Japanese society ⚫︎ 社会問題 Translation: Social problems ⚫︎ 社会人 Translation: Working adult (literally "社会 person")

社会 is a versatile word used in various contexts. ⚫︎It can be used to discuss the overall structure of society, such as its values, norms, and institutions. ⚫︎It can refer to specific groups within society, such as professional organizations, communities, or even online groups. ⚫︎It's frequently used in discussions about social issues, politics, and current events. You can use 社会 when you talk about your community or the world around you.

⚫︎The word 社会 is typically written using the kanji 社会. ⚫︎The reading is しゃかい in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ 世間 (せけん) - the world, society ⚫︎ 共同体 (きょうどうたい) - community ⚫︎ コミュニティ (komyuniti) - community (loanword) ⚫︎ 世の中 (よのなか) - the world, society

There aren't direct antonyms, but words that describe the opposite of the concept of "society" could include: ⚫︎ 個人 (こじん) - individual ⚫︎ 孤独 (こどく) - solitude, loneliness

最近の社会問題について話し合いました。 ・Translation: We discussed recent social problems. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 社会問題, indicating issues affecting society as a whole.

彼は社会人になってから、とても成長した。 ・Translation: He has grown a lot since becoming a working adult. ・Explanation: This example shows the usage of 社会人, which is a common term referring to people who have entered the workforce.

The word 社会 is a Sino-Japanese word, meaning it was borrowed from Chinese. The Chinese characters are: 社 (sha) meaning "shrine" or "group" and 会 (hui) meaning "meeting" or "association." Together, they combine to represent the concept of a "community" or "society."