Translation and Meaning of: 人 - jin

The Japanese word 人[じん] is one of the most fundamental and versatile terms in the language. Its basic meaning refers to "person" or "human being," but its usage goes much further, appearing in everyday expressions, country names, and even philosophical concepts. In this article, we will explore its origin and how it fits into Japanese culture, along with practical tips for those learning the language.

If you have already studied Japanese, you have probably encountered 人[じん] in different contexts. It can be combined with other kanji to form words like 日本人 (nihonjin - Japanese) or 外国人 (gaikokujin - foreigner). Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to uncover not only the meaning but also the cultural and grammatical details that make this word a key piece in the Japanese vocabulary.

Meaning and usage of 人[じん]

The kanji 人, read as じん (jin) in certain combinations, represents the idea of person, individual, or humanity. Unlike the reading ひと (hito), which is more generic, じん usually appears in compound words, especially to indicate nationality or groups of people. For example, アメリカ人 (amerikajin) means "American," while 社会人 (shakaijin) refers to a "member of society" or "professional."

An interesting characteristic is that じん is not limited to humans. In terms like 宇宙人 (uchūjin - alien), it expands its meaning to include any intelligent being. This usage reflects how the Japanese language can be flexible, adapting a basic concept to various contexts, from everyday life to science fiction.

Origin and writing of the kanji 人

The kanji 人 has a history that dates back to ancient China, where its original form represented a human being in profile. Over time, this pictographic representation evolved into the simplified strokes we use today. In Japan, it was incorporated into the writing system and gained multiple readings, including じん (jin), にん (nin), and ひと (hito).

Interestingly, 人 is one of the first kanjis that students learn, precisely because of its simplicity and frequency. It appears in over 1,300 words in the dictionary, according to Kanjipedia, one of the most reliable databases on Japanese characters. Its radical (the part that indicates meaning) is itself, which makes it easier to memorize for beginners.

Tips for memorizing and using 人[じん]

An effective way to remember 人[じん] is to associate it with words that are already part of your vocabulary. For example, if you know that 日本 (Nihon) means "Japan," it's easy to remember that 日本人 (Nihonjin) is "Japanese." This pattern repeats in various nationalities, such as フランス人 (Furansujin - French) or 中国人 (Chūgokujin - Chinese).

Another tip is to pay attention to the context. While じん appears more in compound terms, ひと is used alone or in informal expressions. A common mistake among beginners is saying じん when referring to a specific person, such as in *あのじんは優しい (ano jin wa yasashii). The correct form would be あの人は優しい (ano hito wa yasashii), since じん does not function as a standalone noun in these cases.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 者 (sha) - Person, someone, usually used in formal or legal contexts.
• 男女 (danjo) - Men and women; refers to both sexes.
• 人間 (ningen) - Human being, the condition of being human, emphasizing the nature and essence of humanity.
• 人物 (jinbutsu) - Character or person, focus on individual or notable characteristics.
• 人類 (jinrui) - Humanity refers to the entirety of the human species.

人

Romaji: jin
Kana: じん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: man; person; guys

Meaning in English: man;person;people

Definition: human. A type of living being that has reason and emotions, and that shapes society and culture.

Example Sentences - (人) jin

See below some example sentences:

違えることは人間らしいことだ。

Chigae ru koto wa ningen rashii koto da

Making mistakes is human.

Different is human.

• 違えること - action of making mistakes or failures
• は - Topic particle
• 人間らしいこと - typical human behavior
• だ - Verb "to be" in the present tense

鉄砲を持っている人は危険です。

Tepou wo motte iru hito wa kiken desu

The person who has a firearm is dangerous.

Those who have weapons are dangerous.

• 鉄砲 - Firearm
• を - direct object particle
• 持っている - verb "to have" conjugated in the present continuous
• 人 - person
• は - Topic particle
• 危険 - dangerous
• です - verb "to be" conjugated in the formal present

頼みは人の上に立つ。

Tanomi wa hito no ue ni tatsu

A request is above a person.

The request is in one person.

• 頼み (tanomi) - request, application
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人 (hito) - person
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 上 (ue) - above, superior
• に (ni) - target particle
• 立つ (tatsu) - to stand, to be in an upright position

文化は人々の生活に欠かせないものです。

Bunka wa hitobito no seikatsu ni kakasenai mono desu

Culture is essential to people's lives.

Culture is indispensable to people's lives.

• 文化 (bunka) - culture
• 人々 (hitobito) - people
• 生活 (seikatsu) - life, way of life
• 欠かせない (kakasenai) - indispensable, essential
• もの (mono) - thing
• です (desu) - Verb ser/estar (polite form)

彼は頑固な人です。

Kare wa ganko na hito desu

He is a stubborn person.

He is a stubborn person.

• 彼 (kare) - he
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 頑固 (ganko) - Stubborn, resolute
• な (na) - Particle indicating adjective
• 人 (hito) - person
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

学問は人生の宝物です。

Gakumon wa jinsei no takaramono desu

Knowledge is a treasure in life.

Academic is a treasure of life.

• 学問 - means "study" or "knowledge acquired through study".
• は - topic particle, indicating that the subject of the sentence is "study".
• 人生 - means "human life."
• の - possession particle, indicating that "human life" is the possessor of the treasure.
• 宝物 - means "treasure".
• です - verb to be in the present tense, indicating that "study" is a treasure in human life.

人差し指で指し示す。

Hitosashiyubi de sashishimesu

Point with the index finger.

Point with your index finger.

• 人 (hito) - person
• 差し指 (sashiyubi) - Index finger
• で (de) - with
• 指し示す (sashimesasu) - to point

人々が祭りの会場に群がる。

Hitobito ga matsuri no kaijou ni muragaru

People gather at the party venue.

People gather to the festival site.

• 人々 - people
• が - Subject particle
• 祭り - festival
• の - Possessive particle
• 会場 - Event location
• に - Destination particle
• 群がる - Crowding, gathering in large numbers

公募で新しい人材を募集します。

Koubo de atarashii jintai wo boshuu shimasu

We are recruiting new talent through a public offering.

We are looking for new human resources for an open call for participants.

• 公募 - means "public summons".
• で - is a particle that indicates the means or method used to carry out the action.
• 新しい - means "new" or "recent".
• 人材 - means "personnel" or "human resources".
• を - is a particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 募集します - means "to recruit" or "to seek out".

初めての人目は緊張します。

Hajimete no hitome wa kinchou shimasu

The first time you are seen by someone it can be nervous.

My first person is nervous.

• 初めての (hajimete no) - First time
• 人目 (hitome) - someone's look
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 緊張します (kinchou shimasu) - get nervous