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:

吹奏することは私の人生の喜びです。

Fuisō suru koto wa watashi no jinsei no yorokobi desu

Brassing is the joy of my life.

• 吹奏すること - playing a wind instrument
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 私 - I
• の - grammatical particle that indicates possession
• 人生 - life
• の - grammatical particle that indicates possession
• 喜び - joy, pleasure
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

味覚は人それぞれです。

Ajikan wa hito sorezore desu

Taste varies from person to person.

The taste is different for everyone.

• 味覚 - It means "palate" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that the subject of the sentence is the palate.
• 人 - means "person" in Japanese.
• それぞれ - means "each" or "individually" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a statement.

商人は商売をする人です。

Shounin wa shoubai wo suru hito desu

A trader is a person who does business.

The merchant is a business person.

• 商人 - It means "merchant" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese.
• 商売 - It means "business" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• する - verb "to do" in Japanese.
• 人 - means "person" in Japanese.
• です - The verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate state or quality.

問答は人生の一部です。

Mondou wa jinsei no ichibu desu

Questions and answers are part of life.

• 問答 - "questions and answers"
• は - It is a topic marking particle in Japanese.
• 人生 - Means "life" in Japanese.
• の - it is a possessive particle in Japanese.
• 一部 - "part" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.

善良な人は尊敬される。

Zenryō na hito wa sonchō sareru

Good and kind people are respected.

Good people are respected.

• 善良な人 - kind person
• は - Topic particle
• 尊敬される - is respected

善し悪しは人それぞれです。

Zen shi aku shi wa hito sorezore desu

Good or bad is different for everyone.

• 善し (yoshi) - good
• 悪し (warushi) - bad
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 人 (hito) - person
• それぞれ (sorezore) - each one
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

図々しい人は嫌われる。

Zuzushii hito wa kirawareru

Shameless people are hated.

I hate people who are attracted.

• 図々しい - adjective meaning "brazen", "cheeky", "shameless".
• 人 - noun meaning "person".
• は - particle that marks the subject of the sentence.
• 嫌われる - verb in the passive form meaning "to be hated", "to be detested".

増加する人口が社会問題となっている。

Zouka suru jinkou ga shakai mondai to natte iru

Population increase is becoming a social problem.

The growing population has become a social problem.

• 増加する - increasing
• 人口 - population
• が - (subject particle)
• 社会問題 - social problem
• と - (connection particle)
• なっている - is becoming

声が大きい人は迷惑です。

Koe ga ookii hito wa meiwaku desu

People with loud voices are annoying.

• 声が大きい人 - person with a loud voice
• は - Topic particle
• 迷惑 - discomfort
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

大切な人を大切にしましょう。

Taisetsu na hito wo taisetsu ni shimashou

Vamos tratar as pessoas importantes com cuidado.

Cuide de seus entes queridos.

• 大切な人 - pessoa importante
• を - object particle
• 大切に - com cuidado, com importância
• しましょう - let's do it