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:

神話は古代の人々の信仰や文化を伝える大切な物語です。

Shinwa wa kodai no hitobito no shinkō ya bunka o tsutaeru taisetsu na monogatari desu

Myth is an important story that conveys the religion and culture of ancient people.

• 神話 - Myth
• は - Topic particle
• 古代 - Antique
• の - Possession particle
• 人々 - people
• の - Possession particle
• 信仰 - Faith
• や - enumeration particle
• 文化 - culture
• を - object particle
• 伝える - transmit
• 大切 - important
• な - Suffix indicating adjective
• 物語 - history
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

私はまだ自分の人生の方向性を模索しています。

Watashi wa mada jibun no jinsei no hōkōsei o mosaku shite imasu

I'm still looking for the direction of my life.

I'm still looking for the direction of my life.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• まだ (mada) - adverb meaning "yet"
• 自分 (jibun) - reflexive pronoun meaning "myself"
• の (no) - possessive particle indicating a relationship of ownership
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• の (no) - connecting particle linking "life" with "方向性"
• 方向性 (hōkōsei) - noun meaning "direction" or "orientation"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 模索しています (mosaku shiteimasu) - compound verb meaning "to search" or "to explore"

私は自分の人生を変えることができます。

Watashi wa jibun no jinsei o kaeru koto ga dekimasu

I can change my own life.

I can change my life.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 自分 (jibun) - Japanese reflexive pronoun that means "to oneself."
• の (no) - Japanese particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my".
• 人生 (jinsei) - 生活 (seikatsu)
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "vida".
• 変える (kaeru) - Japanese verb that means "to change"
• こと (koto) - Japanese noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to change."
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - できる (dekiru)

私の友人はとても親切です。

Watashi no yuujin wa totemo shinsetsu desu

My friend is very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - possession particle indicating that "friend" belongs to "me"
• 友人 (yuujin) - noun meaning "friend" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle indicating that "friend" is the subject of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 親切 (shinsetsu) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind" in Japanese
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative

私の伯母はとても優しい人です。

Watashi no oba wa totemo yasashii hito desu

My aunt is a very kind person.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 伯母 (obasan) - noun that means "aunt" (sister of the father or mother)
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind"
• 人 (hito) - noun that means "person"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of discourse

私の人生は充実しています。

Watashi no jinsei wa juujitsu shiteimasu

My life is full of achievements.

My life is rewarding.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 充実しています (juujitsu shiteimasu) - Verb "estar" means "to be" and "preenchido/satisfeito" means "filled/satisfied" in the present progressive.

私はそそっかしい人です。

Watashi wa sosokkashii hito desu

I am a distracted person.

I am a terrible person.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• そそっかしい (sosokkashii) - adjective meaning "distracted" or "inattentive"
• 人 (hito) - noun that means "person"
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the existence or identity of the subject

私は友達に人生の重要な決定を諮る必要がある。

Watashi wa tomodachi ni jinsei no juuyou na ketsudan wo hakaru hitsuyou ga aru

I need to consult my friends about the important decisions of life.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "for the friend"
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case "of life"
• 重要な (juuyouna) - Adjective meaning "important"
• 決定 (kettei) - noun that means "decision"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case "the decision"
• 諮る (shiru) - verb that means "to consult"
• 必要がある (hitsuyou ga aru) - expression that means "to be necessary"

私は几帳面な人間です。

Watashi wa kichoumen na ningen desu

I am a meticulous person.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 几帳面 (kichoumen) - adjective that means "methodical," "organized"
• な (na) - particle that connects the adjective with the noun
• 人間 (ningen) - noun that means "human being"
• です (desu) - verb "to be" in the present, indicating an affirmation

私は神様が私たちの人生を司ると信じています。

Watashi wa kamisama ga watashitachi no jinsei o tsukasadoru to shinjite imasu

I believe God will control our lives.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 神様 (kamisama) - noun that means "god"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "god"
• 私たち (watashitachi) - personal pronoun meaning "we"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "our"
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "life"
• 司る (tsukasadoru) - verb that means "to govern" or "to control"
• と (to) - particle that indicates direct quotation, in this case, "that"
• 信じています (shinjiteimasu) - verb that means "to believe" or "to have faith" conjugated in the affirmative present