1.
villager, village resident
A person who lives in a village. Used in stories, historical contexts, news, and descriptions of rural life.
村人たちが集まった。
The villagers gathered.
村人が祭りの準備をしている。
The villagers are preparing for the festival.
村人たちは協力して橋を修理し、川を渡れるようにした。
The villagers worked together to repair the bridge so they could cross the river.
USAGE:
村人 is commonly encountered in folk tales, historical narratives, fantasy stories (such as games and anime), and news about rural communities. In modern Japan, where many villages have been merged into towns or cities, the word often carries a traditional or literary flavor.
RELATED WORDS:
- 村民: village residents (more administrative/official term)
- 町人/町民: townspeople
- 住民: residents (general, any area)
NOTE:
The reading 村人 uses the native Japanese (kun'yomi) readings for both characters, giving it a warm, narrative quality.