1.
person, human being
A human individual. The basic word for referring to people in general.
2.
someone, other people
Used to refer to others in general. 人に言う (to tell someone), 人の話 (what others say).
3.
character, personality
The nature or personality of a person. いい人 (a good/kind person).
人 is the basic word for "person" or "people." One of the most fundamental vocabulary items.
Pronunciation
Common patterns
SENSE 2 - "OTHER PEOPLE":
When 人 means "others" rather than "a person," it often carries a mild reproach: 人の気も知らないで (without any thought for how I feel), 人の悪口を言う (to speak ill of others), 人を馬鹿にする (to make a fool of someone). Learners often read these as a neutral "people" and miss the complaint.
Similar words
- 人 vs. 人間: 人 is the everyday word; 人間 is "human being" as a species or as a moral character (人間らしい, "humane")
- 人 vs. 人々: the plural form refers to people collectively, as in a crowd or a population
- 人 vs. 方: 方 is the polite word for a person; use it when speaking about customers, guests, or anyone deserving respect (あの方, not あの人, in formal speech)
- 人 vs. 者: 者 is formal or written, and is also the humble word for oneself and one's own group
Common expressions
Related Words
Related:
人間 (human being (as a species))
Related:
人々 (people (collectively))
Keigo:
方 (person (polite))
Compare:
者 (person (formal/written))
Related:
御方 (person (honorific))