noun

  1. fleeting life, this transient world, floating world.
  2. sad world, world of grief and worry. Esp. 憂き世.
  3. the world of the living, this life, this world, the present world.
  4. (the world of the) red light districts.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
浮世 うきよ
浮世 ふせい
 
浮き世 うきよ
 
憂き世 うきよ
 
 
うき世 うきよ
憂世
憂世 うきよ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

floating, float, rise to surface
う.く フ うき (7th, N3)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
sincere, nourish, encase
フ たまご はぐく.む (Kentei 1)
paw radical
child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
こ シ ス (1st, N5)
complete, finish
リョウ さとる (8th, N2)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
generation, world, society
セ よ セイ (3rd, N4)
twenty
にじゅう ジュウ ニュウ (Kentei Pre-1)
fishhook radical(乙) variant