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:

七人の侍

Shichinin no samurai

the seven samurai

seven samurai

• 七 (shichi/nana) - means "seven" in Japanese
• 人 (hito) - means "person" in Japanese
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 侍 (samurai) - means "samurai" in Japanese, a warrior of the Japanese military class

三人の友達と一緒に遊ぶ。

Mittsu no tomodachi to issho ni asobu

Play with three friends.

Play with three friends.

• 三人 - three people
• の - Possession particle
• 友達 - friends
• と - connecting particle
• 一緒に - together
• 遊ぶ - Play

三人で行く。

San nin de iku

Let's go in three people.

Go with three people.

• 三人 - means "three people" in Japanese.
• で - it is a particle that indicates the medium or the place where something happens.
• 行く - means "go" in Japanese.

不審な人物が近くにいる。

Fushin na jinbutsu ga chikaku ni iru

There is a suspicious person nearby.

• 不審な - suspeito
• 人物 - person
• が - subject particle
• 近くに - near
• いる - be

不自由な人生を送るのは辛いです。

Fujuyuu na jinsei wo okuru no wa tsurai desu

It is painful to live a crucial life.

• 不自由な - adjective that means "not free," "restricted"
• 人生 - substantive that means "life"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 送る - verb that means "to send"
• の - particle that indicates a nominal phrase
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 辛い - adjective that means "difficult," "painful"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and respectful form of the sentence

両極に振り切れる人生を送りたい。

Ryōkyoku ni furikireru jinsei o okuritai

I want to live a life that can be shaken from both poles.

• 両極 (ryoukyoku) - means "two extremes" or "opposites"
• に (ni) - a particle indicating the direction or target of the action
• 振り切れる (furikireru) - a verb meaning "to go beyond the limits" or "to go beyond the limits"
• 人生 (jinsei) - means "life"
• を (wo) - a particle that indicates the direct object of the action
• 送りたい (okuritai) - a verb meaning "to want to send" or "to want to live"

主人公は勇敢でした。

Shujinkou wa yuukan deshita

The protagonist was brave.

• 主人公 - main character
• は - Topic particle
• 勇敢 - brave
• でした - past participle of the verb "ser"

主人公は勇敢である。

Shujinkou wa yuukan de aru

The protagonist is brave.

• 主人公 - main character
• は - Topic particle
• 勇敢 - brave
• である - to be

二つの人を結び付ける力は愛です。

Futatsu no hito wo musubi tsukeru chikara wa ai desu

The power to connect two people is love.

• 二つの人を結び付ける力 - the force that unites two people
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 愛 - love
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

二人の心は結び付く。

Futari no kokoro wa musubi tsuku

The hearts of the two unite.

The two hearts are tied together.

• 二人 - "Duas pessoas" in Japanese
• の - Possessive particle in Japanese
• 心 - "coração" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 結び付く - "Unite" or "connect" in Japanese