also: いちい
noun
the street; the town; the world of common people
Refers to the everyday world of ordinary people, as opposed to official or elite circles. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
彼は市井の学者として尊敬されている。
He is respected as a scholar from the common people.
市井の人々の声を政治に反映させるべきだ。
The voices of ordinary people should be reflected in politics.
Irregular kana reading; rarely used and likely to be misread as しせい.
世間 is a more common word for 'society' or 'the world of people', while 市井 has a more literary, slightly old-fashioned feel and emphasizes the non-official, grassroots aspect.
民間 means 'private sector' or 'civilian', often used in contrast to government or military. 市井 is broader and more about the common people's daily life.
From Chinese 市井 (shìjǐng), literally 'market well', referring to the marketplace and well where people gathered, thus coming to mean the common people's world.