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:

踊ることは私の人生の喜びです。

Odoru koto wa watashi no jinsei no yorokobi desu

Dancing is the joy of my life.

Dancing is the joy of my life.

• 踊ることは - "Dançar é"
• 私の - "my"
• 人生の - "vida"
• 喜びです - "joy."

誠実な人は信頼される。

Seijitsu na hito wa shinrai sareru

The honest person is trustworthy.

Sincere people are trustworthy.

• 誠実な人 - honest person
• は - Topic particle
• 信頼される - it's trustable

警察は犯人を確保しました。

Keisatsu wa hannin o kakuho shimashita

The police arrested the criminal.

The police secured the culprit.

• 警察 (keisatsu) - police
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 犯人 (han'nin) - criminal
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 確保 (kakuhou) - captured
• しました (shimashita) - Polite past tense of the verb "to do."

記憶は人生の宝物です。

Kioku wa jinsei no takaramono desu

Memory is a treasure of life.

Memory is a treasure of life.

• 記憶 (kioku) - memory
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 宝物 (takaramono) - treasure
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

衣食住は人間の三大欲求です。

Ishokujuu wa ningen no sandai yokkyuu desu

Clothing

Clothing and shelter are the three main needs of human beings.

• 衣食住 - clothing, food, and housing
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• の - Possession particle
• 三 - three
• 大 - large
• 欲求 - desire, necessity
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

色は人生を豊かにする。

Iro wa jinsei wo yutaka ni suru

The color enriches life.

The color enriches life.

• 色 (iro) - means "color" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 人生 (jinsei) - means "life" in Japanese
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 豊か (yutaka) - means "rich" or "prosperous" in Japanese
• にする (ni suru) - verbal expression meaning "to become"

色彩は人々の感情に影響を与える。

Shikisai wa hitobito no kanjou ni eikyou wo ataeru

Colors have an impact on people's emotions.

Colors affect people's emotions.

• 色彩 (shikisai) - means "colors"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 人々 (hitobito) - means "people"
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 感情 (kanjou) - means "emotions"
• に (ni) - grammatical particle that indicates action or destiny
• 影響 (eikyou) - means "influence"
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 与える (ataeru) - means "give, grant"

芸術は人生を豊かにする。

Geijutsu wa jinsei wo yutaka ni suru

Life art stuffs.

Art enriches life.

• 芸術 - means "art" in Japanese.
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "art."
• 人生 - Means "life" in Japanese.
• を - is a grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "life".
• 豊か - Means "rich" or "prosperous" in Japanese.
• に - is a grammatical particle that indicates the state or condition resulting from an action, in this case, "becoming rich".
• する - is a verb that means "to do" or "to accomplish".

職人の技術は素晴らしいです。

Shokunin no gijutsu wa subarashii desu

The skill of craftsmen is wonderful.

Craftsman skills are wonderful.

• 職人 - means "craftsman" or "skilled professional".
• の - possession particle, indicating that the next term belongs to the craftsman.
• 技術 - means "technique" or "skill".
• は - topic particle, indicating that the subject of the sentence is the craftsman's skill.
• 素晴らしい - adjective meaning "wonderful" or "excellent".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

自由は人間の基本的な権利です。

Jiyuu wa ningen no kihonteki na kenri desu

Freedom is a fundamental right of human beings.

Freedom is the basic right of humans.

• 自由 - freedom
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• の - Possession particle
• 基本的な - basic
• 権利 - right
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present