三人(さんにん)

Counting patterns

The readings for one and two people are irregular: 一人(ひとり), 二人(ふたり). From three onward, the regular Sino-Japanese system is used: 三人(さんにん), 四人(よにん), 五人(ごにん).

Common patterns

• 三人(さんにん)で: as a group of three
• 三人(さんにん)とも: all three people
• 三人(さんにん)兄弟(きょうだい): three siblings
• 三人(さんにん)組(ぐみ): a trio, group of three
• 三人(さんにん)前(まえ): three servings (food)

Common expressions

• 三人(さんにん)寄(よ)れば文殊(もんじゅ)の知恵(ちえ): two heads are better than one (proverb; literally, three people together have the wisdom of Manjushri)