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:

この施設は多くの人を収容できます。

Kono shisetsu wa ooku no hito wo shuyou dekimasu

This installation can accommodate many people.

• この - this
• 施設 - installation/facility
• は - is
• 多くの - many
• 人 - people
• を - direct object
• 収容 - to accommodate
• できます - can you do it

この仕事に適する人材を探しています。

Kono shigoto ni tekisuru jinzai wo sagashiteimasu

We are looking for a suitable candidate for this work.

I am looking for a person who is suitable for this work.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 仕事 - noun meaning "work" or "occupation"
• に - particle that indicates destination or goal
• 適する - Verb that means "to be suitable" or "to be appropriate"
• 人材 - noun that means "talent" or "human resources"
• を - particle that indicates direct object
• 探しています - verb that means "to search for" or "to look for" in the present continuous

この映画の人物はとても魅力的です。

Kono eiga no jinbutsu wa totemo miryokuteki desu

The characters in this movie are very captivating.

The person in this movie is very attractive.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 映画 - noun meaning "film"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 人物 - noun meaning "character"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 魅力的 - adjective meaning "attractive" or "charming"
• です - verb "to be" in the present affirmative

このタレントはとても人気があります。

Kono tarento wa totemo ninki ga arimasu

This talent is very popular.

This talent is very popular.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• タレント - noun meaning "artist" or "celebrity"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 人気 - noun meaning "popularity"
• が - subject particle indicating that "人気" is the subject of the sentence
• あります - verb meaning "to have" or "to exist", in the present tense

この刀は職人が丁寧に拵えたものです。

Kono katana wa shokunin ga teinei ni koshiraeta mono desu

This sword has been carefully crafted by a craftsman.

This sword is carefully crafted by the craftsman.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 刀 - noun meaning "sword"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 職人 - noun meaning "craftsman"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 丁寧に - adverb meaning "carefully"
• 拵えた - past tense verb meaning "made"
• もの - noun that means "thing"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

この商店はとても人気があります。

Kono shouten wa totemo ninki ga arimasu

This store is very popular.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 商店 - noun meaning "store"
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "this store"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 人気 - noun meaning "popularity"
• が - subject particle indicating that "popularity" is the subject of the sentence
• あります - verb meaning "to exist" or "to have"

この犯人は警察に手配されています。

Kono hannin wa keisatsu ni tehai sarete imasu

This criminal is being sought by the police.

The criminal is organized by the police.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 犯人 - noun that means "criminal"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 警察 - noun that means "police"
• に - Particle indicating the target of the action
• 手配 - noun that means "wanted"
• されています - passive form of the verb "suru", which indicates that the action was done by the subject and not by the agent. In this case, it means "was sought"

この雑誌は創刊から人気がある。

Kono zasshi wa soukan kara ninki ga aru

This magazine has been popular since its launch.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 雑誌 - noun meaning "magazine"
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "this magazine"
• 創刊 - noun meaning "release" or "first edition"
• から - particle that indicates the starting point, in this case, "since"
• 人気 - noun meaning "popularity"
• が - subject particle that indicates that "popularity" is the subject of the sentence
• ある - verb meaning "to exist" or "to have"

この会社は優秀な人材を採用することを目指しています。

Kono kaisha wa yūshūna jinzai o saiyō suru koto o mezashite imasu

This company aims to hire exceptional talent.

The company intends to hire excellent human resources.

• この会社 - This company
• は - Topic particle
• 優秀な - Great
• 人材 - Human resources
• を - Direct object particle
• 採用する - Hire
• こと - Abstract noun
• を - Direct object particle
• 目指しています - It is aimed at

この商品はとても人気があります。

Kono shouhin wa totemo ninki ga arimasu

This product is very popular.

• この商品 - This Product
• は - Topic particle
• とても - "very"
• 人気 - popularity
• が - subject particle
• あります - exist