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A2 noun #500 am häufigsten 9 Min. Lesezeit

人々

hitobito Top 500

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how Japanese nouns work. Usually, Japanese nouns don't change whether there is one thing or many things. However, 'Hitobito' is a special word you will see early on because it is very common. Think of it as a 'set word' for 'people.' You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just remember that 'Hito' is one person and 'Hitobito' is many people. You will mostly see it in simple sentences like 'There are many people' (Ooku no hitobito ga imasu). It's a great word to help you start recognizing the '々' symbol, which you will see in other words later. Just focus on the sound 'hito-bito' and the meaning 'people.'

At the A2 level, you should start noticing the difference between 'Hitobito' and 'Hitotachi.' While both mean 'people,' 'Hitobito' is what you use when you are talking about people in a general way, like 'The people in this town' or 'People like movies.' It sounds a bit more 'grown-up' and polite than 'Hitotachi.' You will often use it with the word 'Ooku no' (many). For example, 'Ooku no hitobito ga kimasu' (Many people come). This is also the level where you should practice writing the kanji 人々. Remember that the second character is not a kanji, but a repeat mark. This word is very useful for describing scenes in your writing assignments, such as describing a busy street or a festival.

At the B1 level, you are moving into more intermediate territory where 'Hitobito' becomes a tool for more descriptive and slightly formal Japanese. You will start to see it in news articles, short stories, and intermediate listening exercises. You should understand that 'Hitobito' carries a nuance of 'each and every person' within a group. It is often used to describe the feelings or actions of a large group of people as a single entity. For example, 'Hitobito no kokoro' (the hearts of the people). At this level, you should be comfortable using it in your own speeches or essays when discussing society, culture, or general human behavior. It helps you avoid sounding too casual when the topic is serious.

At the B2 level, you should be able to distinguish the subtle nuances of 'Hitobito' compared to 'Ningen' (humans) or 'Kokumin' (citizens). 'Hitobito' is the 'human' way to describe a group, focusing on them as living, breathing individuals rather than just a biological category or a legal status. You will encounter this word in complex texts about sociology, history, and literature. You should also be aware of the 'rendaku' (voicing) that occurs in this word and how it fits into the broader pattern of Japanese phonology. In your writing, you can use 'Hitobito' to create a certain atmosphere—perhaps one of community or, conversely, one of a faceless crowd. It is a key word for achieving a natural, high-intermediate level of expression.

At the C1 level, you are expected to use 'Hitobito' with precision in academic and professional contexts. You should understand its role in classical-influenced modern Japanese and how it differs from the honorific 'Katagata.' You will see 'Hitobito' used in high-level literature to evoke specific imagery or to comment on the human condition. At this stage, you should also be familiar with related idioms and compound words. Your usage should reflect an understanding that 'Hitobito' is not just a plural, but a way to conceptualize 'the public' or 'society' in a way that is distinct from more clinical terms. You should be able to use it fluently in debates about social issues or in-depth literary analysis.

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'Hitobito.' You understand its historical evolution from Old Japanese and how the reduplication functions within the broader scope of the language's development. You can identify when 'Hitobito' is used ironically, poetically, or with specific legal weight in older texts. You are comfortable with all its synonyms and can choose the exact right word for 'people' based on the finest shades of meaning, register, and social hierarchy. For a C2 learner, 'Hitobito' is a simple but versatile tool that can be used to weave complex narratives or provide sophisticated social commentary. You also recognize its use in various dialects or specialized fields of study.

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

人々 in 30 Sekunden

Hitobito means 'people' and is the plural of 'hito' (person).
It is more formal and literary than the common 'hitotachi'.
It uses the iteration mark '々' to show the kanji '人' is repeated.
It is best for describing general groups, society, or large crowds.

The Japanese word 人々 (hitobito) is a foundational noun that translates to 'people' or 'each and every person' in English. It is the plural form of the kanji 人 (hito), which means 'person.' In Japanese, plurality is often implied by context, but 人々 specifically emphasizes a collective group or the generality of a population. It is slightly more formal and literary than the more common 人たち (hitotachi), making it a staple in news reports, literature, and formal speeches.

Plurality via Reduplication: The word uses a special character called a noma (々), which indicates that the preceding kanji should be repeated. This process, known as reduplication, often changes the meaning from a single unit to a collective or repetitive group. In this case, 'person' becomes 'people.'
The Nuance of Generality: Unlike 'hitotachi,' which usually refers to a specific, identifiable group of people (like 'those people over there'), 人々 is used to describe people in a broader, more abstract sense, such as 'the people of the world' or 'people in general.'

世界中の人々が平和を願っています。
(Sekaijuu no hitobito ga heiwa o negatte imasu.)
People all over the world are wishing for peace.

You will encounter 人々 frequently when reading newspapers or listening to documentaries. It carries a sense of dignity and scale. For instance, when describing the history of a nation or the behavior of a crowd at a festival, this word provides the necessary weight. It is less likely to be used when talking about your group of friends at a cafe, where watashitachi or tomodachi would be more appropriate.

Visual Representation: The kanji 人 represents a person standing. By doubling it, the visual language suggests a line or a crowd of individuals standing together, forming a society.

多くの人々がその祭りに集まった。
(Ooku no hitobito ga sono matsuri ni atsumatta.)
Many people gathered at that festival.

In modern Japanese, the word also appears in various set phrases. For example, 'machi no hitobito' (the people of the town) or 'michi o yuku hitobito' (people walking down the street). It captures the essence of human presence without necessarily focusing on individual identities. It is the 'human element' in a scene.

Using 人々 (hitobito) correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a collective noun. It functions just like any other noun in Japanese, meaning it can be the subject, object, or part of a possessive phrase. However, because it already implies plurality, you never need to add other plural markers like '-tachi' to it. Doing so would be redundant and grammatically incorrect.

As a Subject: When 人々 is the subject of a sentence, it is followed by particles like が (ga) or は (wa). It often takes verbs related to action, thought, or existence.

人々は新しい技術に驚いた。
(Hitobito wa atarashii gijutsu ni odoroita.)
The people were surprised by the new technology.

One of the most common ways to use 人々 is with the modifier 'ooku no' (many). While 'takusan no hito' is common in conversation, 'ooku no hitobito' is the standard way to express 'a great number of people' in written or formal contexts. This combination is particularly frequent in journalism and academic writing.

Modifying Other Nouns: You can use the particle の (no) to connect 人々 to other nouns, indicating possession or belonging. For example, 'hitobito no seikatsu' (people's lives).

戦争は多くの人々の生活を変えた。
(Sensou wa ooku no hitobito no seikatsu o kaeta.)
The war changed the lives of many people.

It is also important to note the emotional distance 人々 creates. If you are talking about your family, you would never use 人々. It is reserved for groups where the speaker is observing from the outside or speaking on behalf of a large, diverse population. It is an 'objective' plural.

In descriptive writing, 人々 often appears with adjectives that describe a state or feeling. 'Shiawase na hitobito' (happy people) or 'kanashimi ni kureru hitobito' (people overcome with sadness). These phrases help paint a broad picture of a community's emotional state.

Locational Context: It is often paired with locations to describe the inhabitants. 'Mura no hitobito' (villagers), 'kuni no hitobito' (the people of the country).

この村の人々はとても親切です。
(Kono mura no hitobito wa totemo shinsetsu desu.)
The people of this village are very kind.

While you might not use 人々 (hitobito) every day in casual conversation with friends, you will hear it constantly in the Japanese media landscape. It is the go-to word for 'the public' or 'the masses.' Understanding where it appears will help you grasp the 'vibe' of the word.

News and Journalism: News anchors use 人々 to report on societal trends, disasters, or public opinion. It sounds professional and objective. For example, 'Many people are concerned about the economy' would almost certainly use this word.

不況の影響で、多くの人々が苦しんでいます。
(Fukyou no eikyou de, ooku no hitobito ga kurushinde imasu.)
Due to the recession, many people are suffering.

In documentaries and educational programs, 人々 is used to describe historical figures or cultural groups. It provides a sense of narrative scale. When a narrator says, 'Ancient people believed in many gods,' 人々 is the natural choice to encompass that vast, historical group.

Literature and poetry also favor 人々. It has a rhythmic, almost poetic quality compared to the more functional 'hitotachi.' In a novel, a writer might use it to describe the faceless crowd in a busy city, emphasizing the individual's isolation within the mass of 'people.'

Public Speeches and Announcements: Politicians or community leaders often address 'the people' using this term. It sounds inclusive and respectful. A mayor might start a speech by saying, 'To all the people of this city...'

市民の人々の意見を聞くことが大切です。
(Shimin no hitobito no iken o kiku koto ga taisetsu desu.)
It is important to listen to the opinions of the citizens (people).

Finally, you will see it in advertising and marketing, especially when a company wants to sound like they are contributing to society. 'Bringing joy to people's lives' is a classic marketing trope that utilizes the broad, positive nuance of 人々.

While 人々 (hitobito) is a relatively simple word, English speakers often make mistakes regarding its register, its specific plural nature, and its confusion with similar-sounding words. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

Mistake 1: Over-Formalizing Casual Talk: Using 人々 when hanging out with friends can sound stiff or overly dramatic. If you want to say 'The people at the party were fun,' using 人々 sounds like you're writing a sociology report. Use 'hito-tachi' or 'minna' instead.

❌ パーティーの人々は面白かった。
✅ パーティーにいた人たちは面白かった。
(The people at the party were interesting.)

Another common error is adding plural suffixes. Because English speakers are used to adding '-s' to nouns, they might feel the urge to add '-tachi' to 人々. However, 人々 is already plural. Adding '-tachi' is like saying 'peopleses' in English.

Confusion with 'Hito-bito' vs. 'Hito-tachi' is the most frequent hurdle. 'Hito-tachi' is for specific groups you can point to. 'Hitobito' is for the general public or large, unidentifiable masses. If you are talking about the 'people in this room,' use 'hito-tachi.' If you are talking about 'people in this country,' use 人々.

Mistake 2: Incorrect Rendaku: Beginners sometimes forget to voice the second 'hito' and say 'hito-hito.' While understandable, it is incorrect. It must be 'hito-bito.' This is a rule of thumb for almost all reduplicated words in Japanese (e.g., toki-doki, hibi).

❌ ひとひと (Hito-hito)
✅ ひとびと (Hito-bito)

Finally, avoid using 人々 when referring to a specific number of people. You cannot say 'San-nin no hitobito' (Three people). For specific counts, you must use the counter 'nin' with the base noun 'hito' (e.g., 'san-nin no hito'). 人々 is for an uncountable or large, vague number.

Japanese has many ways to say 'people,' and choosing the right one depends entirely on the context, formality, and who you are talking about. Comparing 人々 (hitobito) with its synonyms will help you refine your vocabulary.

人たち (Hitotachi): This is the most common plural. It is neutral and used for specific groups. 'Ano hito-tachi' (those people). It is much more conversational than 人々.
皆様 (Minasama): Used when addressing a group directly and politely. While 人々 is talking about people, 'Minasama' is talking to people. You hear this in announcements: 'Ladies and gentlemen.'

Comparison:
1. 人々は幸せを求めている。
(People [in general] seek happiness.)
2. あの人たちは幸せそうだ。
(Those people [over there] look happy.)

For even more formal or academic contexts, you might encounter 人間 (ningen). While it often means 'human being' as a species, it can be used to discuss 'humanity' or 'people' in a philosophical sense. It is more clinical than 人々.

In legal or official documents, you might see 国民 (kokumin) for 'citizens' or 大衆 (taishuu) for 'the masses/the general public.' These are much more specific than the general 人々.

民 (Tami): This is an archaic or fantasy-novel word for 'the people' or 'subjects' of a kingdom. You'll hear this in historical dramas (Jidaigeki) or RPGs like Final Fantasy.

Summary of Nuance:
- 人々: General, slightly formal, collective.
- 人たち: Specific, conversational, plural.
- 方々: Respectful, formal, collective.
- 人間: Biological, philosophical, 'humanity'.

Choosing between these depends on your relationship with the subject. If you are a journalist writing about a crowd, 人々 is your best friend. If you are a waiter talking about the group at table five, 'O-kyaku-sama-tachi' is the way to go.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"多くの人々がその式典に参列いたしました。"

Neutral

"人々は新しい公園を楽しんでいます。"

Informell

"（あまり使われない）"

Child friendly

"たくさんの人々がニコニコしています。"

Umgangssprache

"（なし）"

Wusstest du?

The symbol '々' used in '人々' is called a 'kurikaeshi' or 'noma'. It was originally a simplified version of the kanji '仝' (meaning 'same'), which itself was a shorthand for '同'.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /hi.to.bi.to/

US /hi.to.bi.to/

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. In 'hitobito', the pitch starts low on 'hi', rises on 'to', and stays high or slightly drops on 'bito'.

Reimt sich auf

Mito (City name) Kito (Prayer) Sato (Village) Ototo (Sound) Koto (Thing/Instrument) Moto (Origin) Atobito (Rare word) Chibito (Rare word)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it as 'hito-hito' without the 'b' sound.
Stressing the wrong syllable (Japanese syllables have equal length).
Elongating the 'o' sounds like 'hee-toh-bee-toh'.
Confusing the 'b' sound with a 'p' sound.
Failing to pronounce the 'h' clearly at the beginning.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to read once you know the '々' symbol.

Schreiben 2/5

Simple kanji and symbol, but remember the rendaku when writing the reading.

Sprechen 2/5

Easy to pronounce, just remember the 'b' sound.

Hören 2/5

Very common in news and media, easy to pick out.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

人 (Hito) 々 (Iteration mark) たち (Tachi) 多い (Ooi) 世界 (Sekai)

Als Nächstes lernen

方々 (Katagata) 人間 (Ningen) 国民 (Kokumin) 大衆 (Taishuu) 社会 (Shakai)

Fortgeschritten

衆 (Shuu) 諸人 (Morobito) 民草 (Tamigusa) 群衆 (Gunshuu) 老若男女 (Rounyaku nannyo)

Wichtige Grammatik

Reduplication (畳語 - Jougo)

人々 (Hitobito), 日々 (Hibi), 国々 (Kuniguni)

Sequential Voicing (連濁 - Rendaku)

Hito + Hito = Hitobito (h -> b)

Iteration Mark (々)

Used to repeat the previous kanji.

Generic Plurals

Japanese nouns are usually neutral, but hitobito is a specific plural form.

Noun Modifiers with の

世界中の人々 (People of the whole world)

Beispiele nach Niveau

人々がいます。

There are people.

Simple subject + particle が + existence verb います。

多くの人々が来ました。

Many people came.

多くの (many) modifies 人々。

人々は親切です。

The people are kind.

人々 as the topic of the sentence with は。

街の人々。

The people of the town.

Noun + の + 人々 indicates belonging.

人々は笑っています。

The people are laughing.

Present continuous form of 'to laugh'.

人々はどこですか？

Where are the people?

Question form using どこ (where).

有名な人々。

Famous people.

Adjective + 人々。

人々は歌います。

The people sing.

Basic verb 歌います (to sing).

この村の人々はとても温かいです。

The people of this village are very warm (kind).

温かい (warm) is used here to mean kind-hearted.

多くの人々がそのニュースを聞きました。

Many people heard that news.

Past tense of 聞く (to hear/listen).

世界中の人々がこの歌を知っています。

People all over the world know this song.

世界中 (all over the world) + の + 人々。

公園で人々が休んでいます。

People are resting in the park.

Location particle で + 人々 + action.

古い時代の人々はどのように暮らしていましたか？

How did people in old times live?

どのように (how) + 暮らす (to live/dwell).

人々は新しい店に並んでいます。

People are lining up at the new store.

並ぶ (to line up) in continuous form.

その祭りは多くの人々を惹きつけます。

That festival attracts many people.

惹きつける (to attract) is a slightly more advanced verb.

人々は平和な生活を望んでいます。

People desire a peaceful life.

望む (to desire/hope for).

科学の進歩は人々の生活を豊かにした。

The progress of science made people's lives richer.

豊かにする (to make rich/abundant).

震災の後、多くの人々が助け合いました。

After the earthquake, many people helped each other.

助け合う (to help each other) is a compound verb.

その政治家は人々の信頼を失った。

That politician lost the people's trust.

信頼 (trust/confidence) + を失う (to lose).

人々が何を考えているのか知りたい。

I want to know what people are thinking.

Embedded question with か + 知りたい (want to know).

この物語は、多くの人々に感動を与えました。

This story gave (moved) many people.

感動を与える (to give/inspire emotion).

人々は伝統を守り続けています。

People continue to protect tradition.

Verb stem + 続ける (to continue doing).

都会の人々はいつも忙しそうです。

People in the city always seem busy.

Adjective + そう (seems like).

インターネットは人々のコミュニケーションを変えた。

The internet changed people's communication.

Communication is written in Katakana.

社会の不平等に対して、人々は声を上げた。

People raised their voices against social inequality.

に対して (against/towards) + 声を上げる (to raise one's voice).

人々の価値観は時代とともに変化する。

People's values change with the times.

とともに (along with/together with).

その芸術家は、名もなき人々の姿を描き続けた。

That artist continued to paint the figures of nameless people.

名もなき (nameless) is a literary expression.

人々は情報の波に飲み込まれている。

People are being swallowed by the wave of information.

Passive form 飲み込まれている (being swallowed).

新しい法律が人々の権利を保護する。

The new law protects the rights of the people.

権利 (rights) + 保護する (to protect).

人々は目に見えない恐怖に怯えていた。

People were frightened by an invisible fear.

怯える (to be frightened) + past continuous.

教育は人々の可能性を広げる鍵である。

Education is the key to expanding people's possibilities.

可能性 (possibility) + 広げる (to expand).

人々はかつての美しい自然を懐かしんでいる。

People are longing for the beautiful nature of the past.

懐かしむ (to yearn for/miss).

権力に抗う人々の姿は、後世に語り継がれるだろう。

The figures of people resisting power will likely be passed down to future generations.

抗う (to resist/oppose) + 語り継がれる (to be passed down/told).

その哲学者は、人々の孤独の本質を追究した。

That philosopher pursued the essence of people's loneliness.

本質 (essence) + 追究する (to investigate/pursue).

人々は虚飾に満ちた世界で真実を求めている。

People are seeking truth in a world full of ostentation.

虚飾 (ostentation/vanity) + に満ちた (full of).

文化の多様性は、そこに住む人々のアイデンティティを形成する。

Cultural diversity forms the identity of the people living there.

形成する (to form/shape).

人々は合理性だけでは割り切れない感情を抱えている。

People harbor emotions that cannot be explained by rationality alone.

割り切れない (cannot be simplified/explained away).

その詩は、虐げられた人々の心の叫びを代弁している。

That poem speaks for the cries of the hearts of the oppressed people.

虐げられた (oppressed) + 代弁する (to speak for/represent).

人々は絶望の淵にあっても、希望を捨てなかった。

Even on the brink of despair, the people did not give up hope.

絶望の淵 (the abyss/brink of despair).

技術の進化が人々の倫理観を問い直している。

The evolution of technology is calling into question people's sense of ethics.

問い直す (to re-examine/question again).

衆愚政治は、時として人々の盲目的な熱狂から生まれる。

Ochlocracy (mob rule) sometimes arises from the blind enthusiasm of the people.

衆愚政治 (ochlocracy) + 盲目的 (blind/mindless).

その作家は、市井の人々の営みを克明に描き出した。

The author vividly depicted the daily lives of the common people.

市井 (the town/streets) + 営み (workings/life) + 克明に (vividly/minutely).

人々は、自らが作り出した偶像に支配されているに過ぎない。

People are merely being controlled by the idols they themselves created.

偶像 (idol) + に過ぎない (nothing more than).

歴史の荒波に翻弄される人々の運命は、あまりに過酷であった。

The fate of the people tossed about by the stormy waves of history was far too harsh.

翻弄される (to be toyed with/tossed about).

人々は、沈黙の中にこそ真の対話が存在することを知るべきだ。

People should know that true dialogue exists precisely within silence.

こそ (precisely/exactly) emphasizes the preceding noun.

その叙事詩は、太古の人々の宇宙観を反映している。

That epic reflects the worldview of ancient people regarding the universe.

叙事詩 (epic poem) + 宇宙観 (worldview of the universe).

人々は、有限な生の中で無限の意義を見出そうと足掻いている。

People are struggling to find infinite meaning within their finite lives.

足掻く (to struggle/flail).

文明の崩壊は、人々の精神的な紐帯が断たれた時に始まる。

The collapse of civilization begins when the spiritual bonds of the people are severed.

紐帯 (bond/tie) + 断たれる (to be severed).

Häufige Kollokationen

多くの人々

世界中の人々

街の人々

人々の生活

人々の心

一般の人々

村の人々

名もなき人々

人々の期待

道行く人々

Häufige Phrasen

人々の目

人々の声

人々の足

人々の知恵

人々の輪

人々の営み

人々の流れ

人々の願い

人々の集まり

人々の関心

Wird oft verwechselt mit

人々 vs 人たち

Hitotachi is for specific groups; Hitobito is for general groups.

人々 vs 方々

Katagata is the honorific version; use it for people you respect.

人々 vs 皆様

Minasama is for addressing people directly (Hello everyone).

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"人々の口に戸は立てられぬ"

You can't stop people from gossiping. (Literally: You can't put a door on people's mouths.)

噂はすぐ広まる。人々の口に戸は立てられぬものだ。

Proverb

"人々の耳目を集める"

To attract public attention or notice.

その事件は人々の耳目を集めた。

Formal

"人々の記憶に残る"

To remain in people's memories.

彼の活躍は人々の記憶に残るだろう。

Neutral

"人々の期待を背負う"

To carry the weight of people's expectations.

彼は人々の期待を背負って戦った。

Neutral

"人々の失笑を買う"

To be laughed at by people (usually for doing something silly).

彼の発言は人々の失笑を買った。

Formal

"人々の心を掴む"

To win people's hearts.

彼女の歌は人々の心を掴んだ。

Neutral

"人々の道標となる"

To become a guide or signpost for people.

彼の教えは人々の道標となった。

Literary

"人々の不満が爆発する"

People's dissatisfaction explodes (reaches a breaking point).

ついに人々の不満が爆発した。

Journalistic

"人々の恩恵に浴する"

To benefit from the kindness of people.

多くの人々の恩恵に浴して生きてきた。

Formal

"人々の目に触れる"

To be seen by people; to come into public view.

その作品は初めて人々の目に触れた。

Neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

人々 vs 人間 (Ningen)

Both mean 'people' in some contexts.

Ningen is biological or philosophical ('humans'). Hitobito is social and collective ('the people').

人間はいつか死ぬ (Humans die someday) vs 人々は祭りに集まる (People gather at the festival).

人々 vs 国民 (Kokumin)

Both refer to a large group.

Kokumin is a legal term for citizens of a country. Hitobito is just people in general.

日本国民 (Japanese citizens) vs 日本の人々 (People in Japan).

人々 vs 大衆 (Taishuu)

Both mean 'the masses'.

Taishuu is more academic or sociological. Hitobito is more descriptive and common.

大衆の心理 (Psychology of the masses).

人々 vs 民 (Tami)

Both mean 'the people'.

Tami is archaic or used in fantasy. Hitobito is modern.

国の民 (The people of the nation - old style).

人々 vs 衆 (Shuu)

Both refer to a group.

Shuu is usually a suffix or used in specific compounds like 'gunshuu' (crowd).

観衆 (The audience).

Satzmuster

多くの人々が [Verb]。

多くの人々が公園にいます。

[Location] の人々は [Adjective] です。

この町の人々は親切です。

人々は [Noun] を [Verb]。

人々は平和を願っています。

人々の [Noun] は [Adjective] です。

人々の生活は便利になりました。

[Cause] で、多くの人々が [Verb]。

不況で、多くの人々が困っています。

人々は [Sentence + か] を考えている。

人々は将来どうなるかを考えている。

人々の [Noun] に [Verb] を与える。

その本は人々の心に勇気を与えた。

人々は [Noun] に [Verb] されているに過ぎない。

人々は流行に流されているに過ぎない。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

So verwendest du es

frequency

Very high in written Japanese and media; moderate in daily speech.

Häufige Fehler

ひとひと (Hito-hito) → ひとびと (Hito-bito)
Forgetting the rendaku (voicing) on the second 'hito'.
人々たち (Hitobito-tachi) → 人々 (Hitobito)
Adding a plural suffix to a word that is already plural.
三人の人々 (San-nin no hitobito) → 三人の人 (San-nin no hito)
Using hitobito with a specific number counter.
家族の人々 (Kazoku no hitobito) → 家族 (Kazoku)
Using hitobito to refer to a small, intimate group like a family.
々々 (Double noma) → 人々 (Hito + noma)
Trying to use the iteration mark without the base kanji.

Tipps

No -tachi needed

Never add -tachi to hitobito. It's already plural. Adding it makes you sound like a beginner.

The Noma Symbol

Practice writing '々'. It's used in many common words like tokidoki (時々) and hibi (日々).

Objective View

Use hitobito when you are looking at a group from the outside, like a reporter or an observer.

News Context

When you see '多くの人々' in a headline, it almost always means 'the public' or 'a large number of citizens'.

Pair with Ooku no

Memorize 'ooku no hitobito' as a single phrase. It's incredibly common in formal Japanese.

Clear 'B'

Make sure the 'b' in hitobito is clear and voiced. It distinguishes the word from a simple repetition.

Collective Harmony

Understand that hitobito often implies a group acting in harmony or sharing a common experience.

Formal Speeches

If you ever have to give a speech in Japanese, hitobito is a safe and professional word to use.

Rendaku Patterns

Learning hitobito helps you recognize other rendaku patterns in Japanese compounds.

JLPT N4/N5

This is a core word for the JLPT. Expect to see it in reading passages about daily life or society.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Hito' as one person. When you see two 'Hito's (the second one represented by 々), it becomes a crowd of 'Bito's. The 'b' sound is like a 'big' group.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine one stick figure (人). Then imagine a second stick figure (々) standing right next to it. Together, they represent a whole crowd of people.

Word Web

人 (Person) 々 (Repeat) 社会 (Society) 大勢 (Many people) 国民 (Citizens) 群衆 (Crowd) 人類 (Humanity) 世間 (The world/public)

Herausforderung

Try to use 'hitobito' in three different sentences today: one about your town, one about the world, and one about a festival.

Wortherkunft

The word 'Hitobito' originates from the ancient Japanese practice of reduplication to express plurality or intensity. The base word '人' (hito) has been part of the Japanese language since its earliest recorded forms.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Multiple persons; a group of humans.

Japonic / Old Japanese.

Kultureller Kontext

Generally a very safe and neutral word. However, in extremely high-level honorific situations, 'katagata' is preferred to avoid sounding too distant or clinical.

English speakers often use 'everyone' or 'everybody' where Japanese might use 'hitobito' to sound more objective or descriptive.

Used frequently in the Japanese Constitution (Nihon-koku Kenpou). Commonly found in the lyrics of J-Pop songs about peace and global unity. A standard term in NHK News broadcasts.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

News Reports

多くの人々が...
人々は懸念している
人々の生活に影響
避難する人々

Travel/Tourism

地元の人々
観光客の人々
親切な人々
人々で賑わう

History/Culture

古代の人々
江戸時代の人々
伝統を守る人々
名もなき人々

Public Speaking

市民の皆様（人々）
人々の期待に応えて
人々の幸せのために
集まった人々

Literature

孤独な人々
行き交う人々
人々のざわめき
愛し合う人々

Gesprächseinstiege

"この街の人々についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the people in this town?)"

"世界中の人々が使うアプリは何だと思いますか？ (What app do you think people all over the world use?)"

"多くの人々がその映画を見た理由は何でしょう？ (What is the reason many people saw that movie?)"

"人々が一番大切にしているものは何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the thing people value most?)"

"祭りの時、人々はどんな様子ですか？ (How are the people during the festival?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、街で見かけた人々について書いてください。 (Write about the people you saw in town today.)

あなたの国の人々は、週末に何をしますか？ (What do the people in your country do on weekends?)

「幸せな人々」とは、どのような人たちだと思いますか？ (What kind of people do you think 'happy people' are?)

インターネットが人々の生活をどう変えたか考えてください。 (Think about how the internet has changed people's lives.)

将来、人々はどのような生活をしていると思いますか？ (What kind of lives do you think people will be living in the future?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, it is an iteration mark used to repeat the previous kanji. It saves space and indicates plurality or repetition.

No, you should say 'San-nin no hito.' Hitobito is for general or large groups, not specific counts.

Hitotachi is for specific people you can identify (e.g., those friends). Hitobito is for 'people' in a general, broader sense.

This is called rendaku. When words are repeated or combined, the first sound of the second part often becomes voiced (h -> b).

It is neutral to slightly formal. It is very polite compared to 'yatsu-ra' (those guys) but less formal than 'katagata'.

No, that would be very strange. Use 'kazoku' or 'watashitachi'.

Type 'hitobito' and it will convert. Alternatively, type 'noma' or 'onaji' and look through the suggestions.

No, by definition, it is always plural.

No, it is strictly for human beings.

Yes, especially when a character is talking about society or protecting the world.