三人(さんにん)

三人(さんにん) uses the Sino-Japanese number 三(さん) with the counter 人(にん) for people.

Counting people

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)

Cultural note

The expression 三人(さんにん)寄(よ)れば文殊(もんじゅ)の知恵(ちえ) ("three heads are better than one") is a well-known proverb.