1.
that person (over there); he; she
A pronoun referring to a person who is distant from both the speaker and listener, or someone both parties know but who is not present.
2.
one's significant other; my husband/wife/partner
An indirect way to refer to one's romantic partner or spouse, used to avoid naming them directly.
The most natural third-person pronoun in Japanese for referring to someone both speaker and listener are aware of. Unlike 彼 or 彼女, which feel somewhat formal or translated, あの人 is the default conversational choice.
Usage
In sense 2, women especially use あの人 to refer to their husband or partner in conversation with others. This usage carries a soft, intimate tone without being overly direct. Men may also use it, though 家内, 妻, or the partner's name is more common for men.
Register
- あの人: neutral, everyday
- あの方: polite/formal equivalent
- あの子: that girl/boy — used for younger people, can sound condescending for adults