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:

思考することは人間の特権です。

Shikou suru koto wa ningen no tokken desu

Thinking is a human privilege.

Thinking is a human privilege.

• 思考すること - thought/reflection
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• の - Possession particle
• 特権 - privilege
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

悪魔は人間を誘惑する。

Akuma wa ningen wo yūwaku suru

Demsta Tempt Humans.

The devil seduces humans.

• 悪魔 - demon
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human
• を - direct object particle
• 誘惑 - temptation
• する - verb "to do"

彼女は物好きな人です。

Kanojo wa monozuki na hito desu

She is a curious person.

She is a favorite person.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - She
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 物好き (monozuki) - Interested in strange things, curious
• な (na) - adjective particle
• 人 (hito) - Person
• です (desu) - Verb to be in the polite form

幸せは人生の最高の目的です。

Shiawase wa jinsei no saikou no mokuteki desu

Happiness is the ultimate goal of life.

Happiness is the best purpose of life.

• 幸せ - happiness
• は - Topic particle
• 人生 - life
• の - Possession particle
• 最高 - the best
• の - Possession particle
• 目的 - objective
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

希望は人生のエネルギーです。

Kibou wa jinsei no enerugii desu

Hope is the energy of life.

Hope is the energy of life.

• 希望 (kibou) - hope
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• の (no) - Possession particle
• エネルギー (enerugii) - energy
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

婦人は社会の重要な役割を果たしています。

Fujin wa shakai no juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashiteimasu

Women play an important role in society.

Women play an important role in society.

• 婦人 - woman
• は - Topic particle
• 社会 - society
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な - important
• 役割 - role/function
• を - direct object particle
• 果たしています - performing

学歴は人生を決めるわけではない。

Gakureki wa jinsei o kimeru wake de wa nai

Academics do not determine life.

Educational formation does not determine life.

• 学歴 - means "school report" or "academic formation".
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "学歴".
• 人生 - means "human life."
• を - object particle that indicates that "人生" is the direct object of the sentence.
• 決める - verb that means "to decide" or "to determine".
• わけ - noun that means "reason" or "motive".
• ではない - negative expression that means "it isn't."

夫人はとても美しいです。

Fujin wa totemo utsukushii desu

The wife is very beautiful.

Mrs. It's very beautiful.

• 夫人 - means "wife" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence.
• とても - adverb in Japanese that means "very".
• 美しい - adjective in Japanese that means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - The verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate the existence or characteristic of something.

女の人はとても美しいです。

Onna no hito wa totemo utsukushii desu

The women are very beautiful.

The woman is very beautiful.

• 女の人 - means "woman" in Japanese.
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "woman".
• とても - it's an adverb that means "very".
• 美しい - it's an adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - it is a grammatical particle that indicates the formality of the sentence and can be translated as "is".

好き嫌いは人それぞれです。

Sukikirai wa hito sorezore desu

Likes and dislikes vary from person to person.

Likes and dislikes are different for everyone.

• 好き嫌い (sukikirai) - likes and dislikes
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 人 (hito) - person
• それぞれ (sorezore) - Each one, individually
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present