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:

悩むことは人間らしいことだ。

Nayamu koto wa ningen rashii koto da

Worrying is human.

Working is human.

• 悩む - It means "to worry" or "to be distressed" in Japanese.
• こと - it is a particle that indicates an action or event.
• は - is a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "悩むこと".
• 人間 - "human being" in Japanese.
• らしい - it is a suffix that indicates a typical or expected characteristic of something or someone.
• こと - again the particle that indicates an action or event.
• だ - it is an auxiliary verb that indicates the present affirmative form.

意識が高い人は成功する可能性が高いです。

Ishiki ga takai hito wa seikou suru kanousei ga takai desu

Highly conscious people will probably be successful.

• 意識が高い人 - Conscious people
• は - Topic particle
• 成功する - Success
• 可能性が高い - High probability
• です - Sentence-ending particle

愛でたい人がいる。

Aide tai hito ga iru

There is someone I want to love.

There are people who want to love.

• 愛でたい - "want to love"
• 人 - noun "person"
• が - subject particle
• いる - verb "to exist"

感覚は人間の五感の一つです。

Kankaku wa ningen no gokan no hitotsu desu

Feeling is one of the five human senses.

The feeling is one of the five senses of humans.

• 感覚 - "sensation" in Japanese.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the theme of the sentence.
• 人間 - "human being" in Japanese.
• の - grammatical particle that indicates possession.
• 五感 - "five senses"
• の - grammatical particle that indicates possession.
• 一つ - means "one" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a statement.

愛情は人生の最高の贈り物です。

Aijou wa jinsei no saikou no okurimono desu

Love is the best gift in life.

• 愛情 (aijou) - love
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 最高 (saikou) - better, maximum
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift of offer
• です (desu) - verb to be, to stay

成る丈は人それぞれです。

Naru take wa hito sorezore desu

The length is individual.

• 成る丈 (narujou) - means "height that is reached" or "success that is achieved" and is a Japanese expression that refers to personal fulfillment.
• は (wa) - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人 (hito) - means "person" in Japanese.
• それぞれ (sorezore) - means "each" or "individually" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.

技術は人々の生活をより良くするために役立ちます。

Gijutsu wa hitobito no seikatsu wo yori yoku suru tame ni yakudachi masu

Technology helps improve people's lives.

Technology helps improve people's lives.

• 技術 - technology
• は - Topic particle
• 人々 - people
• の - Possessive particle
• 生活 - life
• を - direct object particle
• より良く - better
• する - make
• ために - for
• 役立ちます - To be useful

指揮をとる人はリーダーシップが必要です。

Shiki wo toru hito wa riidaashippu ga hitsuyou desu

The person who takes command needs leadership.

• 指揮をとる人 - person who leads
• は - Topic particle
• リーダーシップ - leadership
• が - subject particle
• 必要です - necessary

新人は新鮮なエネルギーをもたらします。

Shinjin wa shinsen na enerugī o motarasimasu

The newborn bring new energy.

• 新人 (shinjin) - new member
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 新鮮な (shinsen na) - Fresh, new
• エネルギー (enerugī) - energy
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• もたらします (motarashimasu) - bring, provide

旅は人生の宝物です。

Tabi wa jinsei no takaramono desu

Travel is a treasure in life.

Travel is a treasure of life.

• 旅 - "viagem" em japonês significa 旅行 (りょこう, ryokou).
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人生 - Means "life" in Japanese.
• の - It is a grammatical particle that indicates possession or relation.
• 宝物 - means "treasure" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.