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:

弁護士は被告人を弁護する役割を持っています。

Bengoshi wa hikokunin o bengo suru yakuwari o motte imasu

Lawyers have the role of defending the defendants.

The lawyer has the role of defending the defendant.

• 弁護士 - attorney
• は - Topic particle
• 被告人 - defendant
• を - direct object particle
• 弁護する - Defend
• 役割 - role/function
• を - direct object particle
• 持っています - has/possesses

弱ることは人間らしいことだ。

Yowaru koto wa ningen rashii koto da

It is human to weaken.

Waking is human.

• 弱ること - weaken, lose strength or vigor
• は - topic or subject marker particle
• 人間 - Human being
• らしい - similar to, typical of
• こと - thing, fact, event
• だ - Verb to be/estar in the present

影響を受けた人々は多かったです。

Eikyou wo uketa hitobito wa ookatta desu

Many people have been affected.

• 影響を受けた人々は多かったです。
• 影響 - influence
• を - direct object particle
• 受けた - received
• 人々 - people
• は - Topic particle
• 多かった - there were many
• です - is (politeness)

彼はとても優しい人です。

Kare wa totemo yasashii hito desu

He is a very kind person.

• 彼 (kare) - He
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• とても (totemo) - Very
• 優しい (yasashii) - kind
• 人 (hito) - Person
• です (desu) - Verb to be in the polite form

彼は強い人です。

Kare wa tsuyoi hito desu

He is a strong person.

• 彼 (kare) - He
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 強い (tsuyoi) - Strong
• 人 (hito) - Person
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

彼は人々を煽てることが好きです。

Kare wa hitobito o ateru koto ga suki desu

He likes to provoke people.

He likes to feed people.

• 彼 - He
• は - Topic particle
• 人々 - people
• を - Direct object particle
• 煽てる - Incite, provoke
• こと - Abstract noun
• が - Subject particle
• 好き - Like
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

彼は無口な人です。

Kare wa mukuchi na hito desu

He is a quiet person.

He is a silent person.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 無口 - adjective that means "quiet" or "silent"
• な - particle connecting the adjective to the noun
• 人 - noun that means "person"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

彼は頼もしい人です。

Kare wa tanomoshii hito desu

He is a reliable person.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - topic particle that indicates the theme of the sentence, in this case "he"
• 頼もしい - Japanese adjective that means "reliable", "trustworthy", "worthy of trust"
• 人 - Japanese noun meaning "person"
• です - Japanese linking verb indicating the state or condition of the subject, in this case "is"

彼は鈍い人だ。

Kare wa nibui hito da

He is a slow person.

He is a boring person.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 鈍い - Japanese adjective meaning "slow", "stupid", "silly"
• 人 - Japanese noun meaning "person"
• だ - Japanese verb indicating the state or condition of the subject

彼は冷酷な人間だ。

Kare wa reikoku na ningen da

He is a cruel person.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 冷酷 - Japanese adjective that means "cruel" or "ruthless".
• な - Japanese particle that functions as an adjective
• 人間 - Japanese noun that means "human being"
• だ - Japanese verb that means "to be"