Let’s dive into one of the most fundamental kanji, 人 (hito), the kanji for “person” or “people.” Just by looking at it, you can see how it resembles a standing person! This kanji is absolutely everywhere in Japanese—from describing individuals to naming nationalities.
In this lesson, we’ll break down:
- The origin and stroke order of 人.
- Its native Japanese (kun’yomi) reading: hito.
- Its Chinese-derived (on’yomi) readings: nin and jin.
- Tons of practical examples you can use right away!
The Kanji 人: Origin, Stroke Order, and Basic Readings
The kanji 人 (hito) originally came from a pictograph showing the side view of a standing human. It’s simple, essential, and forms the basis for many other characters!
We encourage you to practice the stroke order shown in this video.
Kanji – Person 人
📝 Kanji Readings and Meanings
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
| 人 | hito | person, people | This is the kun’yomi (native Japanese reading). Used when the kanji is by itself. |
| 人 | nin | people counter | This is one of the on’yomi (Chinese-derived readings). Used when counting people (except 1 and 2). |
| 人 | jin | people, nationality | This is the second on’yomi. Used to indicate a group or nationality (e.g., American people). |
kun’yomi: ひと (Hito)
The kun’yomi reading ひと (hito) is used when the kanji is on its own or used to describe a general person or type of person. It’s the most common way to say “person.”
Sample Sentences with Hito
- 男の人 / Otokonohito / Man/male
- 女の人 / Onnanohito / Woman/female
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| しらない人が立っています。 | Shiranai hito ga tatteimasu. | A stranger is standing (there). |
| 田中さんはおもしろい人です。 | Tanaka-san wa omoshiroi hito desu. | Mr. Tanaka is a funny person. |
| その人は、どこに住んでいますか？ | Sono hito wa, doko ni sundeimasu ka? | Where does that person live? |
on’yomi: ニン (Nin) and ジン (Jin)
The on’yomi readings ニン (nin) and ジン (jin) are typically used when the kanji 人 is combined with other kanji to form compound words (like numbers or nouns).
Nin: Counting People (3 and up)
Use ニン (nin) when counting three people or more.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| 三人います。 | Sannin imasu. | There are three people. |
| 十人の学生がいます。 | Juunin no gakusei ga imasu. | There are ten students (lit. ten people of students). |
🚨 Quick Exception: Counting People (1 and 2)
While the on’yomi ニン (nin) is used for counting people (3 people, 4 people, etc.), the first two are exceptions and use their own kun’yomi words. Also, seven people is often read as nananin with the kun’yomi.
| Kanji | ひらがな | Romaji | English |
| 一人 | ひとり | hitori | one person |
| 二人 | ふたり | futari | two people |
| 三人 | さんにん | sannin | three people |
| 四人 | よにん | yonin | four people |
| 五人 | ごにん | gonin | five people |
| 六人 | ろくにん | rokunin | six people |
| 七人 | しちにん ななにん |
shichinin nananin |
seven people |
| 八人 | はちにん | hachinin | eight people |
| 九人 | きゅうにん | kyuunin | nine people |
| 十人 | じゅうにん | juunin | ten people |
Jin: Nationality and Life
The ジン (jin) reading is most commonly used to indicate a person’s nationality or origin, or in compound words related to human life.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| 私はアメリカ人です。 | Watashi wa Amerika jin desu. | I am American. |
| あなたは日本人ですか？ | Anata wa Nihon jin desu ka? | Are you Japanese? |
| 人生は短いです。 | Ji n sei wa mijikai desu. | Life is short. |
Mini FAQ: Nationality Word Use
Q: Do I always need to add 人 (jin) to the country name?
A: Yes, for nationalities, you almost always attach 人 (jin) to the country name (e.g., アメリカ + 人 = アメリカ人). There are very few exceptions, and this is the safest and most standard rule to follow.
See the “Country Name and Nationality”.
💡 Extra Vocabulary: Talking About People
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
| 友人 | yuujin | friend | A slightly more formal word than 友達 (tomodachi). |
| 恋人 | koibito | lover, boyfriend/girlfriend | Used for a romantic partner. |
| 他人 | tanin | other people, a third party | Often used to mean “stranger” or someone who is not involved. |
| 人気 | ninki | popularity | The word for “popular” is 人気がある (ninki ga aru). |
| 一人っ子 | hitorikko | only child | Combines 一人 (hitori) + 子 (ko). |
| 人口 | jinkou | population | Used when talking about the number of people in a city or country. |
Time to Test! (Interactive Quiz)
Ready to see how much you’ve learned? Take this quick quiz! Don’t forget, practice makes perfect!
Conclusion & Next Steps
You did it! You’ve taken a great first step in your kanji study by mastering 人 (hito, nin, jin). This character is essential for describing people, counting groups, and talking about nationality.
Keep practicing the stroke order and try to spot 人 in your textbooks, anime, or even on Japanese signs!
Ready to Level up Your Kanji?
150-Hour N5 Course will guide you through all the necessary beginner kanji and vocabulary. If you want to learn 101 basic kanji faster, sign up for “101 Basic Kanji in 21 Days!”.
