人類(じんるい)

じんるい
noun
humanity, mankind
1. humanity, mankind, human race
All human beings collectively. Used to discuss humans as a species or civilization as a whole.
人類(じんるい)の歴史(れきし)は長(なが)いです。
Human history is long.
環境(かんきょう)問題(もんだい)は人類(じんるい)全体(ぜんたい)の課題(かだい)です。
Environmental issues are challenges for all of humanity.
人類(じんるい)は月(つき)に行(い)きました。
Humanity went to the moon.

人類(じんるい) refers to all human beings as a species — humanity, mankind. It has a broad, elevated tone and is used when discussing humans collectively.

COMPOUND:
人(じん) (person) + 類(るい) (class, kind). Literally "the human class."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 人類(じんるい)の歴史(れきし): human history
  • 人類(じんるい)の未来(みらい): humanity's future
  • 人類(じんるい)全体(ぜんたい): all of humanity
  • 人類(じんるい)にとって: for humanity
  • 人類(じんるい)初(はつ): a first for humanity

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 人間(にんげん): human being (can refer to individuals or humanity; broader use)
  • 人類(じんるい): humanity as a species (always collective, never individual)
  • 人々(ひとびと): people (a group of individuals)

REGISTER:
Used in formal, academic, or grand-scale discussions: science, history, philosophy. In casual speech, 人間(にんげん) is more natural.

Related Words

Synonym: 人間(にんげん) (human being (individual or collective))
Related: 人々(ひとびと) (people (group of individuals))
general
Added 2026.1.9 20:41 · Revised 2026.4.4 19:03
01500/01578_jinrui