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:

人が集まる。

Hito ga atsumaru

People gather.

People gather.

• 人 (hito) - means "people"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 集まる (atsumaru) - verb meaning "to come together"

人と心が繋がる。

Hito to kokoro ga tsunagaru

Our hearts are connected with people.

People and hearts are connected.

• 人 - means "people" in Japanese.
• と - is a linking particle in Japanese, which can be translated as "and" or "with".
• 心 - means "heart" or "mind" in Japanese.
• が - is a subject particle in Japanese, which indicates that "heart" is the subject of the sentence.
• 繋がる - is a verb in Japanese that means "to connect" or "to bind".

主人は私の親友です。

Shujin wa watashi no shinyuu desu

My husband is my best friend.

My husband is my best friend.

• 主人 - means "husband" or "spouse" in Japanese.
• は - partítulo gramatical que indica o tópico da frase, neste caso, "o marido".
• 私 - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• の - possessive pronoun that indicates ownership, in this case, "my".
• 親友 - It means "close friend" or "best friend" in Japanese.
• です - verb to be in the present, indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and the statement is true.

不潔な人は健康に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

Fuketsu na hito wa kenkō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu

The dirty person can have a negative impact on health.

Dirty people may have a negative effect on health.

• 不潔な人 (fuketsu na hito) - dirty person
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 健康 (kenkou) - health
• に (ni) - target particle
• 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
• を (wo) - object particle
• 与える (ataeru) - cause
• 可能性 (kanousei) - possibility
• が (ga) - subject particle
• あります (arimasu) - exists

一瞬の出来事が人生を変えることもある。

Isshun no dekigoto ga jinsei wo kaeru koto mo aru

A momentary event can also change someone's life.

A momentary event can change life.

• 一瞬 - means "an instant" or "a moment".
• の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
• 出来事 - means "happening" or "event".
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 人生 - means "human life" or "existence".
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 変える - means "to change" or "to transform".
• こと - abstract noun that indicates an action or event.
• も - particle indicating inclusion or addition.
• ある - verb that indicates the existence or presence of something.

一人一人が大切です。

Hitori hitori ga taisetsu desu

Each person is important.

Each person is important.

• 一人一人 - each person individually
• が - subject particle
• 大切 - important, valuable
• です - verb to be in the polite form

この部屋の定員は10人です。

Kono heya no teiin wa juunin desu

The maximum capacity of this room is 10 people.

The capacity of this room is 10 people.

• この部屋 - "kono heya" means "this room" in Japanese.
• の - "no" is a particle that indicates possession or relationship.
• 定員 - "teiin" means "maximum capacity" or "maximum number of people" in Japanese.
• は - "wa" is a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 10人 - "juppun" means "10 people" in Japanese.
• です - "Desu" is a polite way to say "to be" or "to exist" in Japanese.

この料理は名人の手によって作られました。

Kono ryōri wa meijin no te ni yotte tsukuraremashita

This dish was made by a master chef.

This dish was made by the master.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 料理 - noun that means "cuisine" or "dish"
• は - Topic tag that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "this cuisine"
• 名人 - noun that means "specialist" or "master"
• の - possessive particle indicating the possession relationship, in this case "of the master"
• 手 - noun that means "hand" or "skill"
• によって - "done by the hands of the master"
• 作られました - passive verb in the past form that means "was done" or "was prepared"

この地域の人口分布は均等ではありません。

Kono chiiki no jinkou bunpu wa kintou de wa arimasen

The population distribution in this region is not uniform.

The population distribution in this area is not equal.

• この - Japanese word meaning "this"
• 地域 - Japanese word meaning "region"
• の - Japanese particle indicating possession or belonging
• 人口 - Japanese word meaning "population"
• 分布 - Japanese word meaning "distribution"
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 均等 - Japanese word meaning "uniform" or "the same"
• で - Japanese particle indicating the means or method
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• ありません - Japanese verb meaning "does not exist" or "is not"

この地域は密集した人口密度を持っています。

Kono chiiki wa misshū shita jinkō mitsudo o motte imasu

This area has a dense population density.

This area has a dense population density.

• この - this
• 地域 - region
• は - is
• 密集した - densely populated
• 人口密度 - population density
• を - of
• 持っています - have