Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

세상

sesang
noun★Beginner— the world
general

The world or the universe as a whole, often referring to human society and life.

세상은 빠르게 변한다.

The world changes quickly.

세상을 바꾸는 아이디어가 필요하다.

We need ideas to change the world.

💡

Can be used both literally and metaphorically to refer to life or society.

Collocations

세상 끝the end of the world세상 물정the ways of the world

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

세상 살기phrase
living in the world
세상 끝까지phrase
to the ends of the earth

💡Pro Tip

Philosophical Usage

In Korean literature and philosophy, '세상' often carries deep existential weight, similar to 'the world' in English.

⚡Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning can shift between literal (the physical world) and metaphorical (life, society, or human experience).

📖Word Origin

Derived from Middle Korean '세상' (sesang), meaning 'the world' or 'human society.'

📝Usage Notes

Often used in philosophical or existential contexts to discuss life, society, or the human condition.

Word Breakdown

세
world
root
+
상
appearance or state
suffix
한영사전

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.