人

hito
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person, individual, people, population, nationality
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A noun denoting a human individual, the collective of people, a national identity, a professional suffix, and the standard counter for counting persons.

Examples

  • 彼は農業人です。
    He is a farmer.
  • 人は増え続けている。
    The population keeps increasing.
  • イタリア人は料理が上手だ。
    Italians are good at cooking.
  • 十人が待っている。
    Ten people are waiting.
  • 都市の人は減少した。
    The city's population decreased.

Similar words

スタッフ
郷土民
群衆
市民
国民
労働者
人数
国民
カウント
作業者

Meanings

Individual human being

noun
everyday
neutral
A single person, a human individual, as opposed to an animal or object.

Examples

  • あの人は先生です。
    The person is a teacher.
  • 人が道で転んだ。
    A person fell on the street.
  • 彼は優しい人だ。
    He is a person who is kind.
  • 人の顔は笑っていた。
    The person's face was smiling.
  • その人は日本語が上手です。
    That person speaks Japanese well.
  • 人は毎日食べる。
    A person eats every day.

Similar words

People as a group

noun
technical
neutral
The collective of individuals, often used to refer to the population of a place or the public in general.

Examples

  • 日本の人は勤勉です。
    The people of Japan are diligent.
  • 人は増え続けている。
    The population keeps increasing.
  • 観客人は熱狂した。
    The crowd cheered enthusiastically.
  • 人は自然と共に生きる。
    The people live in harmony with nature.
  • 都市の人は減少した。
    The city's population decreased.
  • 人は毎年増える。
    The population grows each year.

Similar words

Person of a nationality

noun
everyday
neutral
A person belonging to a particular nation or ethnic group, expressed by attaching the suffix to a country name.

Examples

  • 彼は日本人です。
    He is Japanese.
  • アメリカ人は多様です。
    Americans are diverse.
  • 中国人は茶が好きだ。
    Chinese people like tea.
  • フランス人はワインを飲む。
    French people drink wine.
  • 韓国人はK‑popが好きです。
    Korean people love K‑pop.
  • イタリア人は料理が上手だ。
    Italians are good at cooking.

Similar words

Profession or role suffix

noun
business
neutral
A suffix attached to a verb or noun to indicate a person who performs that activity or holds that role.

Examples

  • 彼は料理人です。
    He is a cook.
  • 彼は農業人です。
    He is a farmer.
  • 彼女は音楽人です。
    She is a musician.
  • 彼は作家です。
    He is an author.
  • 彼は運転手です。
    He is a driver.
  • 彼は研究者です。
    He is a researcher.

Similar words

Counter for people

noun
technical
neutral
A numeric counter used after a number to count individuals, pronounced nin in most compounds.

Examples

  • 三人が部屋に入った。
    Three people entered the room.
  • 五人の学生が参加した。
    Five students participated.
  • 七人の友達と食事した。
    I dined with seven friends.
  • 二人だけが残った。
    Only two people remained.
  • 十人が待っている。
    Ten people are waiting.
  • 一人で旅行した。
    I traveled alone.

Similar words

Etymology

From an ancient pictograph of a standing figure, later simplified to the single character 人.

FAQ

What does 人 mean?

人 can mean a single person, the public, a national identity, a professional title, or the counter for counting individuals.

How is 人 pronounced?

Alone it is read hito; in compounds it often becomes jin or nin when used as a counter.

When should I use 人 as a counter?

Place 人 after a numeral to count people, e.g., 三人 for three people, pronounced nin.

What is the difference between 人 and 人々?

人 is generic or singular, while 人々 explicitly refers to multiple people.

How do I say “Japanese person” in Japanese?

You say 日本人.

Can 人 be used to refer to non‑human entities?

No, 人 is reserved for humans; other beings use different nouns.

What is the origin of the kanji 人?

It originates from a pictograph representing a standing person.

Is 人 used in formal writing?

Yes, 人 is neutral and appears in both formal and informal contexts.

How do I write the profession “cook” using 人?

The word is 料理人.

Why is 人 sometimes read as nin?

When 人 functions as a counter after numbers, the reading changes to nin.

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