noun
nisei; second-generation immigrant
Refers to a person born in a new country to immigrant parents, especially of Japanese descent, but also used for other ethnicities. Often used in sociological or historical contexts.
彼は日系二世としてアメリカで生まれ育った。
He was born and raised in the United States as a second-generation Japanese-American.
noun, noun, used as a suffix, noun, used as a prefix
the second; II
Used as a suffix or prefix after names of monarchs, popes, or other titled figures to indicate 'the second'. Also used in product names or sequels.
エリザベス二世は長く在位した。
Elizabeth II reigned for a long time.
このゲームの二世が来年発売される。
The second installment of this game will be released next year.
noun
Colloquial use, often in compounds like 二世議員 (second-generation politician) or 二世タレント (celebrity child following a parent's career). Can imply inheriting a parent's role or status.
彼は有名な俳優の二世だ。
He is the son of a famous actor.
一世 (issei) refers to the first-generation immigrant, while 二世 (nisei) is their child born in the new country.
三世 (sansei) is the third generation, the grandchild of the original immigrant.
From 二 (ni, 'two') + 世 (sei, 'generation, world'). The immigrant-generation sense is a loan translation from English 'second generation', popularized in the context of Japanese diaspora.