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:

現場には多くの人々が集まっていた。

Genba ni wa ooku no hitobito ga atsumatteita

Many people gathered on the site.

• 現場 - Place
• に - particle indicating the place where something happens
• は - topic particle, indicating the main subject of the sentence
• 多く - many
• の - particle indicating possession or belonging
• 人々 - people
• が - particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 集まっていた - they were gathered

百人一首

Hyakunin Isshu

An anthology of classic Japanese poems.

One hundred people

• 百人一首 - List title

相応しい人生を送りたい。

Sōōshii jinsei o okuritai

I want to live a life that is adequate.

I want to live a proper life.

• 相応しい (sōōshii) - Adequado, apropriado
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• を (o) - direct object particle
• 送りたい (okuritai) - want to send, wish to have

県庁には多くの役人が働いています。

Kencho ni wa ooku no yakunin ga hataraite imasu

Many employees work in the city hall office.

• 県庁 - provincial government building
• に - particle indicating location
• は - Topic particle
• 多く - many
• の - Possession particle
• 役人 - civil servants
• が - subject particle
• 働いています - are working

看護師は病気の人々を助けるために大切な存在です。

Kangoshi wa byouki no hitobito wo tasukeru tame ni taisetsu na sonzai desu

Nurses are an important presence to help sick people.

Nurses are important to help sick people.

• 看護師 - nurse
• は - Topic particle
• 病気 - illness
• の - Possessive particle
• 人々 - people
• を - Direct object particle
• 助ける - to help
• ために - For
• 大切な - Important
• 存在 - existence
• です - Verb to be/estar

眼球は人間の重要な器官です。

Gankyū wa ningen no jūyōna kikan desu

Eye is an important human organ.

• 眼球 (gankyuu) - Eye
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人間 (ningen) - Human
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• 器官 (kikan) - organ
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

知的な人は魅力的です。

Chiteki na hito wa miryokuteki desu

Intellectuals are attractive.

• 知的な人 - smart person
• は - Topic particle
• 魅力的です - is attractive

礼儀正しい人は尊敬される。

Reigi tadashii hito wa sonkei sareru

An educated and courteous person is respected.

Educated people are respected.

• 礼儀正しい - respectful, courteous
• 人 - person
• は - Topic particle
• 尊敬される - ser respeitado, ser admirado

社会人としての責任を果たす。

Shakaijin to shite no sekinin wo hatasu

Take responsibility as a member of society.

• 社会人 - shakaijin - person of society
• として - toshite - as, in the capacity of
• の - Não Possessive particle
• 責任 - responsibility - responsibility
• を - wo - direct object particle
• 果たす - hatasu - fulfill, carry out

社交は人間関係を築くために重要な要素です。

Shakou wa ningen kankei o kizuku tame ni juuyou na youso desu

Socialization is an important factor in building relationships.

• 社交 - "interação social" em japonês significa 社会的相互作用 (しゃかいてきそうごさよう).
• 人間関係 - "人間関係" em japonês.
• 築く - "Construir" em japonês significa 建設する (けんせつする, kensetsu suru).
• ために - It is a Japanese particle that indicates the purpose of something, in this case, "for".
• 重要な - means "important" in Japanese.
• 要素 - It means "element" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.