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:

修学は人生を豊かにする。

Shuugaku wa jinsei wo yutaka ni suru

The study enriches life.

Studies enrich life.

• 修学 - means "study" or "learning".
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "修学".
• 人生 - means "human life."
• を - object particle that indicates that "人生" is the direct object of the sentence.
• 豊か - means "rich" or "abundant".
• に - particle that indicates that "豊か" is an adjective that modifies "人生".
• する - verb meaning "to do" or "to accomplish".

個人情報を守ることは大切です。

Kojin joho wo mamoru koto wa taisetsu desu

Protecting personal information is important.

It is important to protect personal information.

• 個人情報 - Personal information
• を - object particle
• 守る - protect
• こと - abstract noun, in this case, "action of protecting"
• は - Topic particle
• 大切 - important
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

偉い人は謙虚である。

Erai hito wa kenkyo de aru

Important people are humble.

Great people are humble.

• 偉い人 - pessoa importante
• は - Topic particle
• 謙虚 - humility
• である - is

働きは人生の重要な要素です。

Hataraki wa jinsei no juuyou na youso desu

Work is an important element in life.

Work is an important factor in life.

• 働き - work
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 人生 - life
• の - Particle that indicates possession
• 重要な - important
• 要素 - element
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

優しい人は素晴らしいです。

Yasashii hito wa subarashii desu

Kind people are wonderful.

• 優しい - Kind, friendly
• 人 - person
• は - Topic particle
• 素晴らしい - wonderful, splendid
• です - Verb ser/estar in the formal present tense

全ての人に平等な機会を与えるべきだ。

Subete no hito ni byoudou na kikai wo ataeru beki da

Everyone must have equal opportunities.

You must give everyone an equal opportunity.

• 全ての人に - All individuals
• 平等な - equality
• 機会を - Opportunities
• 与える - It must be given
• べきだ - It must be done

医学は人々の健康を守るために重要な学問です。

Igaku wa hitobito no kenkō o mamoru tame ni jūyōna gakumon desu

Medicine is an important study to protect people's health.

• 医学 - medicine
• は - Topic particle
• 人々 - people
• の - Possessive particle
• 健康 - health
• を - direct object particle
• 守る - protect
• ために - for
• 重要な - important
• 学問 - academic discipline
• です - Verb to be/estar

医療は人々の健康を守るために必要なものです。

Iryou wa hitobito no kenkou wo mamoru tame ni hitsuyou na mono desu

Medical care is needed to protect people's health.

• 医療 - medical care
• は - Topic particle
• 人々 - people
• の - Possessive particle
• 健康 - health
• を - direct object particle
• 守る - protect
• ために - for
• 必要な - necessary
• もの - thing
• です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)

厚かましい人間は嫌われる。

Atsukamashii ningen wa kirawareru

Shameless people are hated.

Humans are hated.

• 厚かましい - shameless, shameless
• 人間 - Human being
• は - Topic particle
• 嫌われる - to be hated, to be detested

受験は人生の大きな試練です。

Juken wa jinsei no ookina shiren desu

The entrance exam is a big challenge in life.

Taking an exam is a great test of life.

• 受験 - admission exam
• は - Topic particle
• 人生 - life
• の - Possession particle
• 大きな - large
• 試練 - challenge, trial
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present