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:

あの人の言葉はあべこべだ。

Ano hito no kotoba wa abekobe da

That person's words are confusing.

This person's words are amazing.

• あの人の言葉 - ano hito no kotoba- that person's words
• は - wa- Topic particle
• あべこべ - abekobe- upside down
• だ - I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.- Verb to be/estar in the present

食料は人間にとって不可欠なものです。

Shokuryō wa ningen ni totte fukaketsu na mono desu

Nutrition is essential to human beings.

Food is essential for human beings.

• 食料 - food
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• にとって - for
• 不可欠 - essential
• な - adjective particle
• もの - thing
• です - is

飢饉は人々にとって大きな苦しみです。

Kikin wa hitobito ni totte ookina kurushimi desu

Hunger is a great pain for people.

A famine is a great suffering for people.

• 飢饉 (jikin) - extreme hunger, scarcity of food
• は (wa) - topic marker, indicates that what follows is the subject of the sentence
• 人々 (hitobito) - people, human beings
• にとって (nitotte) - for, regarding, from the point of view of
• 大きな (ookina) - great, important
• 苦しみ (kurushimi) - suffering, pain, distress
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

遊びは人生の必需品です。

Asobi wa jinsei no hitsuyōhin desu

Playing is a necessity in life.

The game is a need for life.

• 遊び - means "joke" or "fun".
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人生 - means "human life."
• の - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship.
• 必需品 - means "necessity" or "essential".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and formal form.

道徳は人間の行動規範である。

Dōtoku wa ningen no kōdō kihan de aru

Morality is the norm of human behavior.

Morality is a human code of activity.

• 道徳 - morality
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• の - Possessive particle
• 行動 - behavior
• 規範 - standard
• である - is

酸素は人間にとって必要不可欠な要素です。

Sanso wa ningen ni totte hitsuyōfukaketsu na yōso desu

Oxygen is an essential element for humans.

• 酸素 (sanso) - Oxygen
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人間 (ningen) - Human being
• にとって (ni totte) - For
• 必要不可欠 (hitsuyoufukaketsu) - Essential, indispensable
• な (na) - adjectival particle
• 要素 (yousou) - Element
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

長短は人それぞれです。

Choutan wa hito sorezore desu

The longs and shorts are every person.

• 長短 - means "length" or "size" in Japanese.
• は - is a tagging particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人 - means "person" in Japanese.
• それぞれ - means "each" or "individually" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way of saying "is" or "are" in Japanese.

間違えることは人間らしい。

Machigaeru koto wa ningen rashii

To err is human.

It seems human to make a mistake.

• 間違える - verb that means "to err"
• こと - noun that means "thing"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 人間 - noun that means "human being"
• らしい - suffix that indicates "seems to be" or "characteristic of"

間隔が狭いところは人が集まるのを避けるべきです。

Makaku ga semai tokoro wa hito ga atsumaru no o sakkeru beki desu

You should avoid gathering people when the gap is narrow.

• 間隔 - space, interval
• が - subject particle
• 狭い - narrow, tight
• ところ - place
• は - Topic particle
• 人 - person
• が - subject particle
• 集まる - Meet, join
• のを - particle that indicates direct object
• 避ける - avoid
• べき - it should
• です - polite way to be or to stay

身近な人たちは私の支えです。

Mijikai na hitotachi wa watashi no sasae desu

The close people are my support.

People close to me are my support.

• 身近な人たち - close people
• は - Topic particle
• 私の - my
• 支え - Apoio, suporte
• です - is