恩人(おんじん)

おんじん
noun
benefactor, person to whom one owes gratitude
people
1. benefactor, person to whom one is indebted
A person who has done something significant to help you; someone to whom you owe gratitude.
彼(かれ)は私(わたし)の命(いのち)の恩人(おんじん)だ。
He is the person who saved my life.
命(いのち)の恩人(おんじん) = life-saver
恩人(おんじん)への感謝(かんしゃ)を忘(わす)れない。
I will never forget my gratitude to my benefactor.
あの先生(せんせい)は私(わたし)にとって恩人(おんじん)です。
That teacher is a benefactor to me.
困(こま)っている時(とき)に助(たす)けてくれた恩人(おんじん)のことは、一生(いっしょう)忘(わす)れない。
I will never forget the benefactor who helped me when I was in trouble.
留学(りゅうがく)中(ちゅう)に困(こま)っていた時(とき)にお世話(せわ)になった恩人(おんじん)に、毎年(まいとし)年賀状(ねんがじょう)を送(おく)っている。
I send a New Year's card every year to the benefactor who took care of me when I was struggling during my studies abroad.

恩人(おんじん) refers to someone who has done you a significant favor or helped you in an important way.

Common patterns

Related concept

Cultural note

  • The concept of 恩(おん) (debt of gratitude) is deeply embedded in Japanese culture
  • One is expected to remember and repay kindnesses received

Related Words

Related: 恩(おん) (favor, debt of gratitude)
Related: 恩返(おんがえ)し (repaying a favor)
Related: 恩知(おんし)らず (ingrate, ungrateful person)
core
Added 2026.1.11 19:51 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
02500/02566_onjin