男(おとこ)の人(ひと)

男(おとこ)の人(ひと) is the standard polite way to refer to an adult male in everyday conversation. It is neutral and appropriate in most situations.

Similar words

• 男(おとこ): man (more direct, slightly casual)
• 男性(だんせい): male (formal, used in official/medical/survey contexts)
• 紳士(しんし): gentleman (respectful, formal)
• 男子(だんし): boy, male (used in school/sports contexts)

女(おんな)の人(ひと) (woman) follows the same pattern.

Usage

Used when describing or referring to men you do not know personally. In casual speech, 男(おとこ)の人(ひと) is more natural than 男性(だんせい), which sounds stiff. When talking about someone specific, a name or title is preferred.