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.
Related words
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.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (人) jin
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (人) jin:
Example Sentences - (人) jin
See below some example sentences:
Ōzei no hito ga oshiyoseru
The crowd of people approaches mass.
Many people run.
- 大勢 - means "crowd" or "many people".
- の - Particle that indicates possession or relationship.
- 人 - means "people".
- が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- 押し寄せる - verb meaning "to advance in large numbers" or "to approach en masse".
Dōitsu jinbutsu da to omoimasu
I think it's the same person.
I think it's the same person.
- 同一 (douitsu) - means "same" or "identical".
- 人物 (jinbutsu) - means "character" or "figure".
- だと (da to) - a combination of particles that indicates an assumption or belief.
- 思います (omoimasu) - means "I believe" or "I think".
Tetsugaku wa jinsei no imi o tankyū suru gakumon desu
Philosophy is the study that seeks the meaning of life.
Philosophy is a study that explores the meaning of life.
- 哲学 - philosophy
- は - Topic particle
- 人生 - human life
- の - Possession particle
- 意味 - Meaning
- を - direct object particle
- 探求する - investigate, explore
- 学問 - academic discipline
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Yorokobi wa jinsei no subarashii shunkan desu
Happiness is a wonderful moment in life.
Joy is a wonderful moment in life.
- 喜び - joy
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 人生 - life
- の - Particle that indicates possession
- 素晴らしい - amazing
- 瞬間 - time
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Nageku koto wa ningen rashii koto da
Surrounding is something human.
Slut is human.
- 嘆く - to lament, to sigh
- こと - thing
- は - Topic particle
- 人間 - Human being
- らしい - similar to, typical of
- こと - thing
- だ - Verb to be/estar
Gembaku wa jinrui ni totte ookina higeki desu
The atomic bomb is a great tragedy for humanity.
The atomic bomb is a great tragedy for humanity.
- 原爆 (genbaku) - Atomic bomb
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 人類 (jinrui) - humanity
- にとって (ni totte) - For
- 大きな (ookina) - great
- 悲劇 (higeki) - tragedy
- です (desu) - is
Sōzō wa ningen no saidai no chikara desu
Creation is the greatest power of humanity.
Creation is the greatest power of human beings.
- 創造 (souzou) - creation
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 人間 (ningen) - Human being
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 最大 (saidai) - maximum
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 力 (chikara) - Power
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
Chikara wa jinsei de juuyou na youso desu
Strength is an important element in life.
Power is an important factor in life.
- 力 (chikara) - strength, power
- は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 人生 (jinsei) - human life
- で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the means or place where something happens
- 重要 (juuyou) - important
- な (na) - grammatical particle that indicates the adjectivization of a noun
- 要素 (yousou) - element, component
- です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form
Shinkou wa jinsei no sasae desu
Faith is the support of life.
Faith is the support of life.
- 信仰 - belief, faith
- は - Topic particle
- 人生 - human life
- の - Possession particle
- 支え - support
- です - verb to be in the polite form
Shugyou wa jinsei wo yutaka ni suru
Ascetic practice enriches life.
Training enriches life.
- 修行 - practice, training, discipline
- は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 人生 - human life
- を - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
- 豊か - rich, abundant, prosperous
- に - grammatical particle that indicates transformation or change of state
- する - do, carry out, practice
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
