異世界
isekai[ise̞ka̠i]
The English phrase 'isekai' refers to the Japanese term 異世界, which describes the dimension travel genre. Wiktionary also lists 異世界ファンタジー (isekai fantajī).
Meaning: Dimension travel genre (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 異世界 | isekai | [ise̞ka̠i] (narrow) |
| 異世界ファンタジー | isekai fantajī |
While 異世界 literally translates to 'another world', in modern Japanese pop culture it specifically refers to the genre of stories where a character is transported to or reborn in a different world. You may also encounter the term 異世界ファンタジー (isekai fantajī) to describe isekai fantasy. Within this genre, two common subgenres are 異世界転生 (isekai tensei), meaning 'reincarnation in another world' and 異世界召喚 (isekai shōkan), meaning being 'summoned to another world'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 異世界 can also be used as a verb meaning 'to transport into an alternative world'.
How do you pronounce it?
isekai
Did you know?
- The word 世界 in 異世界 is a loanword from the Sanskrit term 'loka', which originally described the different planes of existence in Buddhist cosmology.
- In modern internet slang, the phrase 異世界に行きたい (isekai ni ikitai), meaning 'I want to go to another world', is often used as a humorous way to express a desire to escape the stress of daily work life.
- Many 異世界 stories feature a 'Truck-kun' trope, where a character is sent to another world after being hit by a truck, making the vehicle a recurring, almost sentient catalyst in the genre.
Examples in context
- 異世界の存在が、多くの文学作品で描かれています。The existence of different worlds has been depicted in many literary works.
- 最新のアニメはイセカイのテーマがよく使われているね。The latest anime often uses the theme of isekai, doesn't it?
- 最近、異世界に行く物語が多いですね。Saikin, isekai ni iku monogatari ga ooi desu ne.Recently, there are many stories about going to another world.
- このアニメは異世界が舞台です。Kono anime wa isekai ga butai desu.This anime is set in another world.
- 私は異世界系の小説が好きです。Watashi wa isekai-kei no shousetsu ga suki desu.I like isekai-style novels.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing anime at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui蓮くんは、異世界の物語を読みますか？Ren-kun wa, isekai no monogatari o yomimasu ka?Ren, do you read stories about other worlds?
- 蓮 Renはい、よく読みますよ。Hai, yoku yomimasu yo.Yes, I read them often.
- 結衣 Yuiおすすめの作品はありますか？Osusume no sakuhin wa arimasu ka?Do you have any recommendations?
- 蓮 Renこの漫画がとても面白いですよ。Kono manga ga totemo omoshiroi desu yo.This manga is very interesting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “isekai” translations and entries 異世界, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
