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A2 noun #100 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

～人

-jin Top 100

At the A1 level, students learn the most basic function of ～人: counting people from 1 to 10. The primary focus is on memorizing the irregular readings for one person (hitori) and two people (futari). Students learn to answer the question 'How many people are in your family?' (Kazoku wa nan-nin desu ka?) and 'How many students are in the class?'. At this stage, the grammar is simple: [Noun] ga [Number]-nin imasu. The concept of nationality (Country + jin) is also introduced, allowing students to say 'I am American' or 'He is Japanese'. The goal is functional survival: being able to state a quantity of people and identify someone's origin.

At the A2 level, learners expand their use of ～人 to describe groups and activities. They begin using the particle 'de' to indicate a group size performing an action, such as 'Futari de eiga o mimasu' (The two of us will watch a movie). They also learn to use ～人 with a wider range of nouns, including specific roles like 'tomodachi' (friend), 'kyakusan' (guest), and 'kodomo' (child). A2 students start to notice the difference between the casual ～人 and the more formal ～名 (mei) often heard in service industry contexts. They also learn to count larger numbers of people (20, 50, 100) and use the counter in more complex sentence structures involving time and location.

By B1, the use of ～人 becomes more nuanced. Students learn to use it in relative clauses, such as 'Sannin de sunde iru ie' (A house where three people live). They also encounter more compound words where 'jin' or 'nin' acts as a suffix for types of people, like 'bijin' (beautiful person), 'tensai-jin' (genius), or 'yuumei-jin' (famous person). B1 learners are expected to handle the counter effortlessly in conversation, including asking for table reservations and discussing population statistics. They also begin to understand the psychological nuance of 'hitori' (alone) versus 'hitori de' (by oneself) and how these phrases function in literature and daily discourse.

At the B2 level, learners explore the sociological and technical applications of ～人. This includes terms like 'jinkou' (population), 'kojin' (individual), and 'jinrui' (humanity). They understand the distinction between 'nin' as a counter and 'jin' as a character denoting a category of person in academic or professional texts. B2 students can discuss complex topics like 'shousuu-minzoku' (minority groups) or 'gaikoku-jin roudousha' (foreign workers) with ease. They also become sensitive to the register shifts between 'nin', 'mei', and 'kata', using them appropriately in business emails, formal presentations, and casual social gatherings.

C1 learners master the subtle, often metaphorical uses of ～人. They encounter it in classical literature or high-level journalism where it might be used to categorize people by character traits or historical roles (e.g., 'kyoujin' for a madman or 'shujin' for a master). They understand the etymological roots of the character and how it interacts with other kanji to form abstract concepts like 'jinkaku' (personality/character) or 'jinji' (human resources/personnel affairs). At this level, the learner can appreciate the nuances of 'hitori' in philosophical contexts, such as the concept of 'being alone' versus 'being lonely' in Japanese thought.

At the C2 level, the learner has a native-like grasp of ～人 in all its forms. This includes legal terminology (e.g., 'houjin' for a legal entity/corporation), archaic readings found in historical texts, and the ability to use the counter in sophisticated wordplay or puns. They can analyze the use of the 'person' radical in kanji and explain its significance in the development of the Japanese writing system. C2 speakers can navigate the most formal diplomatic settings where 'mei' and 'kata' are used with extreme precision, and they can also understand the most obscure slang or regional dialects that might alter the standard 'nin' reading.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

～人 en 30 secondes

Used to count people in Japanese with specific readings.
Irregular readings for one (hitori) and two (futari) people.
Suffix for nationalities (e.g., Nihon-jin for Japanese).
Essential for basic conversation, dining, and describing groups.

The Japanese counter ～人 (nin/jin) is one of the most fundamental building blocks of the Japanese language. At its core, it serves two primary functions: as a counter for human beings and as a suffix to denote nationality or specific types of people. For English speakers, the concept of a 'counter' can be slightly foreign, but think of it like saying 'two head of cattle' or 'three sheets of paper.' In Japanese, you cannot simply say 'three students' using just the number; you must attach the appropriate counter. For people, that counter is nin.

The Counter Function: When used to count people, the reading is usually nin, but there are critical irregulars for one and two people (hitori and futari). From three onwards, it follows the number + nin pattern (sannin, yonin, gonin).

教室に学生が五人います。(Kyou-shitsu ni gakusei ga go-nin imasu.) - There are five people (students) in the classroom.

The Nationality Suffix: When attached to the name of a country, the reading shifts to jin. For example, Nihon-jin (Japanese person), Amerika-jin (American person). This usage defines identity and origin.

Understanding ～人 is essential because it appears in almost every conversation involving social groups, family, or travel. Whether you are booking a table at a restaurant or describing your family size, this character is your primary tool. It reflects the Japanese linguistic emphasis on categorization—distinguishing humans from objects (counted with tsu) or animals (counted with hiki or tou). Culturally, using the correct counter shows respect and proficiency. In formal settings, you might hear the more polite version ～名 (mei), but in daily life, ～人 is the undisputed king of human enumeration.

私はイギリス人です。(Watashi wa Igirisu-jin desu.) - I am a British person.

Visualizing the Kanji: The kanji 人 is a simple pictograph of a person standing on two legs. It is one of the first kanji students learn because of its simplicity and high frequency. It serves as a radical in hundreds of other characters related to human actions or states.

In summary, ～人 is versatile. It tells us how many people are present, where they come from, and even what kind of person they are (e.g., bijin for a beautiful person). Mastering its readings and irregular forms is the first major milestone in Japanese numeracy.

Using ～人 correctly requires an understanding of Japanese sentence structure, specifically how counters interact with nouns and particles. Unlike English, where we say 'three people,' Japanese often places the counter after the noun it modifies. This 'floating' position is very common in spoken Japanese.

Basic Counting Structure: The most natural way to count is: [Noun] + [Particle] + [Number + 人]. For example: Tomodachi ga gonin imasu (I have five friends). Here, the counter acts almost like an adverbial phrase describing the quantity of the friends.

家族は四人です。(Kazoku wa yo-nin desu.) - There are four people in my family.

Another way to use it is: [Number + 人] + [の] + [Noun]. For example: Sannin no gakusei (Three students). This is more common in written Japanese or when the number is a defining characteristic of the group. However, in daily conversation, the first method is much more frequent.

Nationality and Identity: When used as a suffix for nationality, it follows the country name directly: [Country] + 人. Example: Kankoku-jin (Korean person). In this case, it functions as a noun. You can say Kanojo wa Kankoku-jin desu (She is Korean).

You will also see ～人 in compound words. For instance, ko-jin (individual) or otona (adult - though written with different kanji usually, the concept of 'person' is central). When asking 'how many people?', you use nan-nin. This is a vital phrase for any traveler.

何人で来ましたか？(Nan-nin de kimashita ka?) - How many people did you come with?

The 'De' Particle: When you do something as a group, you use the particle de after the counter. Futari de ikimashou (Let's go as two people / Let's go together). Hitori de means 'alone'.

Mastering these patterns allows you to describe social dynamics with precision. Whether you are counting the members of a band, the survivors of a disaster in a news report, or simply how many people want coffee, ～人 is the indispensable tool for human quantification.

The word ～人 is ubiquitous in Japan. You will hear it from the moment you step off a plane until you leave. Its presence spans across formal announcements, casual banter, and commercial interactions. Understanding the context in which it appears helps in anticipating the information being conveyed.

At Restaurants and Cafes: Upon entering, a host will likely ask, 'Nan-mei-sama desu ka?' (How many people?). While they use the polite mei, you should respond with ～人. For example, 'Sannin desu' (Three people). This is the most common real-world application for beginners.

すみません、二人です。(Sumimasen, futari desu.) - Excuse me, we are two people.

In the news, ～人 is used for statistics. You might hear 'Gojyuu-nin ijyou' (More than 50 people) when discussing event attendance or public health data. In sports, it's used to count players or team members. In anime and drama, characters often use hitori (one person/alone) to express loneliness or futari (two people) to emphasize a romantic or close bond.

Workplace and Schools: Teachers count students daily using ～人. In meetings, you might hear 'Kono purojekuto wa go-nin de yarimasu' (We will do this project with five people). It defines the scale of collaboration.

You will also see it on signs. 'Teiin jyuu-nin' (Capacity: 10 people) in an elevator or a small bus. On social media, the number of followers or likes is often counted using people-based terminology. In literature, ～人 can take on a more poetic tone, especially when discussing the 'last person' (saigo no hitori) or a 'certain person' (aru hito).

この部屋は十人まで入れます。(Kono heya wa jyuu-nin made hairemasu.) - Up to ten people can enter this room.

Ultimately, ～人 is the pulse of Japanese social life. It tracks the movement of crowds, the size of families, and the diversity of nationalities in a globalized Japan. Listening for the 'nin' or 'jin' sound will help you quickly identify when the topic is about people.

Learning ～人 seems simple at first, but it is a minefield of irregular readings and grammatical nuances that often trip up English speakers. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Japanese sound much more natural and professional.

Mistake 1: Using 'Ichinin' and 'Ninin': This is the most frequent error. Beginners often try to follow the pattern and say 'ichi-nin' for one person and 'ni-nin' for two. However, you MUST use hitori and futari. 'Ichinin' exists only in specific compounds like 'ichinin-mae' (a portion for one/a full-fledged person), but never for counting people in a room.

❌ 一人います (Ichinin imasu)
✅ 一人います (Hitori imasu)

Mistake 2: The 'Yonin' vs 'Yon-nin' Confusion. For four people, the reading is yo-nin. Many students say yon-nin because 'four' is 'yon'. Adding that extra 'n' sound is a classic marker of a non-native speaker. Similarly, for seven, nana-nin is common, but shichi-nin is also used in certain contexts; however, yo-nin is strictly the only way for four.

Mistake 3: Counting People with 'Tsu': The general counter ～つ (tsu) is for inanimate objects. Saying 'Kodomo ga mittsu' (I have three children - using the object counter) is grammatically incorrect and can sound slightly dehumanizing, as if you are counting boxes or apples.

Mistake 4: Confusing 'Jin' and 'Nin'. Remember: Jin is for WHO they are (nationality/type), and Nin is for HOW MANY they are. You are a 'Gaikoku-jin' (foreigner), but there are 'Sannin' (three people) in your group. Mixing these up can lead to confusing sentences like 'I am American-nin,' which makes no sense in Japanese.

❌ アメリカ人 (Amerika-nin)
✅ アメリカ人 (Amerika-jin)

Finally, watch out for the particle 'no'. While 'Sannin no gakusei' is correct, students often forget that the number-counter unit acts as a single block. Don't say 'San no nin' or 'San-nin no'. Keep the number and the counter glued together.

While ～人 is the standard counter for people, Japanese has several alternatives depending on the level of politeness, the context, or the specific nature of the people being counted. Knowing when to switch from ～人 to another term is key to achieving fluency.

～名 (Mei): This is the formal version of ～人. You will hear it in restaurants, hotels, and business settings. Staff will ask 'Nan-mei-sama?' (How many people?). It sounds more professional and respectful. When you respond, you can use ～人 or ～名, but ～人 is safer for beginners.

予約は三名でお願いします。(Yoyaku wa san-mei de onegaishimasu.) - Reservation for three people, please.

～方 (Kata): This is an honorific way to refer to people. Instead of 'Ano hito' (that person), you say 'Ano kata'. While not a counter in the numerical sense (you don't say 'san-kata'), it is the polite alternative to the noun 'hito'.

In specific contexts, you might encounter ～児 (ji) for children (e.g., fuji for twins, though futago is more common) or ～頭 (tou) which is usually for large animals but can be used humorously or in very specific literary contexts for people in a dehumanized or 'head-count' way, though this is very rare and advanced.

Nationality vs. Ethnicity: Sometimes ～系 (kei) is used instead of ～人 to denote heritage. For example, 'Nikkei-jin' refers to people of Japanese descent living abroad. Here, jin is still the suffix, but kei adds the layer of 'lineage'.

When counting members of a group, ～員 (in) is also common, as in iin (committee member) or shain (employee). These aren't counters but suffixes that define a person's role. If you want to count how many employees there are, you go back to ～人: 'Shain ga jyuu-nin imasu'.

あの方はどなたですか？(Ano kata wa donata desu ka?) - Who is that person (polite)?

In conclusion, while ～人 is your workhorse, keep an ear out for ～名 in shops and ～方 when being polite. This variety allows you to navigate the complex social hierarchies of Japan with grace.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

"本日、三名様で予約しております。"

Neutre

"会議に十人出席しました。"

Informel

"あそこに三人の男がいるよ。"

Child friendly

"お友達が五人いるね！"

Argot

"あの人はマジで変人だ。"

Le savais-tu ?

The character 人 is often used as a radical (the 'person radical' or 'nin-ben') in other kanji, such as 休 (rest - a person leaning against a tree) or 体 (body).

Guide de prononciation

UK /ɲin/ or /dʒin/

US /nin/ or /dʒin/

Flat (Heiban) pitch accent in most counting contexts.

Rime avec

Shin (God) Bin (Bottle) Kin (Gold) Rin (Bell) Min (People - Chinese reading) Pin (Pin) Gin (Silver) Sin (Sin - English loanword)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'hitori' as 'ichi-nin'.
Pronouncing 'futari' as 'ni-nin'.
Adding an extra 'n' to 'yo-nin' (making it 'yon-nin').
Confusing the 'jin' and 'nin' readings.
Using 'hito' when 'nin' is required as a counter.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

The kanji is very simple and easy to recognize. It is one of the first taught.

Écriture 1/5

Only two strokes. Very easy to write.

Expression orale 3/5

Irregular readings for 1 and 2 can be tricky for beginners to remember consistently.

Écoute 2/5

Easy to hear, but 'nin' and 'jin' can sometimes sound similar in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

一 (Ichi) 二 (Ni) 三 (San) 四 (Yon) 五 (Go)

Apprends ensuite

～名 (Mei) ～つ (Tsu) ～匹 (Hiki) ～冊 (Satsu) ～枚 (Mai)

Avancé

人口 (Jinkou) 個人 (Kojin) 人類 (Jinrui) 法人 (Houjin) 人格 (Jinkaku)

Grammaire à connaître

Counter Placement

学生が三人います。 (The counter follows the particle 'ga'.)

Irregular Readings

一人 (hitori), 二人 (futari). (1 and 2 are unique.)

Group Action Particle 'de'

三人で行きます。 (Going as a group of three.)

Nationality Suffix

フランス人 (French person). (Country + jin.)

Question Word

何人 (Nan-nin). (How many people?)

Exemples par niveau

家族は五人です。

My family is five people.

Uses 'go-nin' for five people.

学生が三人もいます。

There are as many as three students.

The particle 'mo' adds emphasis to the number.

一人でデパートへ行きます。

I go to the department store alone.

Hitori de means 'alone' or 'by oneself'.

私は日本人です。

I am Japanese.

Nihon-jin uses 'jin' for nationality.

友達が二人来ました。

Two friends came.

Futari is the irregular reading for two people.

何人いますか？

How many people are there?

Nan-nin is the standard question word for 'how many people'.

六人の子供がいます。

There are six children.

Uses the [Number]-nin no [Noun] pattern.

イギリス人はだれですか？

Who is the British person?

Igirisu-jin is the noun for a British person.

二人で一緒に食べましょう。

Let's eat together, the two of us.

Futari de emphasizes the action is done by two people.

このクラスには外国人が多いです。

There are many foreigners in this class.

Gaikoku-jin means 'foreigner'.

昨日は十人ぐらい来ました。

About ten people came yesterday.

Gurai means 'about' or 'approximately'.

四人でタクシーに乗りました。

Four of us took a taxi.

Yo-nin is the correct reading for four people.

あの人は有名な人です。

That person is a famous person.

Yuumei-na hito uses 'hito' as a noun.

パーティーには何人呼びますか？

How many people will you invite to the party?

Nan-nin is used as the object of the verb 'yobu' (invite).

一人一人が大切です。

Each and every person is important.

Hitori-hitori means 'each person' or 'one by one'.

知らない人がドアの前にいます。

A person I don't know is in front of the door.

Shiranai hito means 'stranger' (lit. person I don't know).

彼は一人で何でもできます。

He can do anything by himself.

Hitori de emphasizes independence here.

このプロジェクトには五人の専門家が必要です。

Five experts are needed for this project.

Go-nin no senmonka (Five experts).

犯人は二人組だったそうです。

I heard the criminals were a pair of two.

Futari-gumi means a pair or a duo.

あの美人はだれですか？

Who is that beautiful person?

Bijin is a compound word for a beautiful woman.

一人の力では限界があります。

There are limits to one person's power.

Hitori no chikara (The power of one person).

多くの人がそのニュースに驚きました。

Many people were surprised by that news.

Ooku no hito is a common way to say 'many people'.

日本に来る外国人が増えています。

The number of foreigners coming to Japan is increasing.

Gaikoku-jin as a subject.

三人寄れば文殊の知恵。

Three people together have the wisdom of Monju (Two heads are better than one).

A famous Japanese proverb using 'sannin'.

日本の人口が減少しています。

Japan's population is decreasing.

Jinkou means 'population'.

個人のプライバシーを守るべきです。

Individual privacy should be protected.

Kojin means 'individual'.

彼は非常に人当たりのいい人だ。

He is a person who is very good with people.

Hito-atari refers to one's manner towards others.

人種差別は許されない行為です。

Racial discrimination is an unforgivable act.

Jinshu means 'race' (of people).

その事件で三人の負傷者が出ました。

Three injured people resulted from that incident.

Sannin no fushousha (Three injured persons).

彼は自由奔放な人柄で知られている。

He is known for his free-spirited personality.

Hitogara means 'personality' or 'character'.

人手が足りなくて困っています。

We are troubled because we lack manpower.

Hitode means 'manpower' or 'help'.

この物語の登場人物は個性的だ。

The characters in this story are unique.

Toujou-jinbutsu means 'characters' (in a story/play).

人類の歴史は闘争の歴史でもある。

The history of humanity is also a history of struggle.

Jinrui means 'humanity' or 'mankind'.

彼は人格者として尊敬されている。

He is respected as a person of high character.

Jinkakusha means a person of character.

人道的な支援が急務となっている。

Humanitarian aid has become an urgent matter.

Jindouteki means 'humanitarian'.

彼女は稀に見る才人だ。

She is a person of rare talent.

Saijin means a talented person.

その決定は人事に大きく影響する。

That decision will greatly affect personnel affairs.

Jinji refers to HR or personnel matters.

人間万事塞翁が馬。

In human life, fortune is unpredictable (The old man's horse).

A classic idiom about the unpredictability of fate.

人目を忍んで会う。

To meet secretly (avoiding the eyes of others).

Hitome means 'public notice' or 'the eyes of others'.

彼は恩人を裏切るような男ではない。

He is not the kind of man to betray his benefactor.

Onjin means 'benefactor' (someone you owe a debt of gratitude).

法人の権利と義務について議論する。

Discuss the rights and obligations of a legal entity.

Houjin means 'legal person' or 'corporation'.

天は人の上に人を造らず、人の下に人を造らず。

Heaven creates no man above another, and no man below another.

A historical philosophical statement using 'hito'.

人跡未踏の地を探索する。

Explore a land where no human has ever set foot.

Jinseki-mitou means 'unexplored' or 'untrodden by man'.

彼は人徳のある指導者だ。

He is a leader with great natural virtue.

Jintoku means 'natural virtue' or 'personal magnetism'.

人事を尽くして天命を待つ。

Do your best and leave the rest to fate.

A profound proverb about human effort and destiny.

その詩は人々の琴線に触れた。

That poem struck a chord with people.

Kinsen ni fureru means to touch someone's heartstrings.

人倫にもとる行為は慎むべきだ。

One should refrain from acts that go against human ethics.

Jinrin refers to human ethics or morality.

彼は当代随一の文人である。

He is the foremost man of letters of the present age.

Bunjin means a 'man of letters' or 'literati'.

Collocations courantes

何人

一人で

二人で

日本人に

有名な人

いい人

多くの人

知らない人

同じ人

別の人

Phrases Courantes

一人暮らし

二人三脚

十人十色

人波

人違い

人出

人通り

人件費

人脈

人質

Souvent confondu avec

～人 vs ～名 (mei)

Mei is for formal counting, whereas nin is for everyday use. Don't use mei with friends.

～人 vs ～つ (tsu)

Tsu is for objects. Never use it to count people in a formal or correct way.

～人 vs ～方 (kata)

Kata is a polite noun for 'person', not a numerical counter.

Expressions idiomatiques

"人目を引く"

To catch the eye. To be conspicuous or attract attention.

彼女のドレスは人目を引いた。

Neutral

"人を食ったような"

To be contemptuous or mocking. Acting as if others are beneath you.

彼は人を食ったような態度をとる。

Informal

"人聞きが悪い"

To sound bad to others. Something that would cause a scandal if heard.

そんなことを言うのは人聞きが悪い。

Neutral

"人事を尽くして天命を待つ"

Do your best and leave the rest to fate.

テストは終わった。あとは人事を尽くして天命を待つだけだ。

Formal/Literary

"人の振り見て我が振り直せ"

Learn from the mistakes of others. (Watch others' behavior and correct your own).

彼の失敗を笑ってはいけない。人の振り見て我が振り直せだ。

Neutral

"人心地がつく"

To feel like oneself again. To feel relieved after a stressful situation.

お茶を飲んで、やっと人心地がついた。

Neutral

"人目に付く"

To be noticeable or in the public eye.

人目に付く場所には置かないでください。

Neutral

"人の口に戸は立てられぬ"

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

噂はすぐに広まる。人の口に戸は立てられぬものだ。

Neutral

"人寄せパンダ"

A person or thing used solely to attract a crowd (like a panda at a zoo).

彼は選挙の人寄せパンダにすぎない。

Informal

"人並み"

Ordinary. Like the average person.

人並みの生活ができれば十分だ。

Neutral

Facile à confondre

～人 vs 一人 (hitori) vs 一人 (ichinin)

Both use the same kanji for 'one person'.

Hitori is for counting people. Ichinin is used in fixed expressions like 'ichinin-mae' (a portion for one).

一人(hitori)で来ました。 VS 一人前(ichinin-mae)の料理。

～人 vs 四人 (yonin) vs 四人 (younin)

The reading of 4 is tricky.

It is always 'yo-nin'. Never 'yon-nin' or 'younin'.

四人(yo-nin)います。

～人 vs 七人 (shichinin) vs 七人 (nananin)

Seven has two readings.

Both are acceptable, but 'nananin' is more common in casual speech, while 'shichinin' is often used in formal contexts or titles.

七人(shichinin)の侍。

～人 vs 人 (hito) vs 人 (jin/nin)

The same kanji has different readings.

Hito is a standalone noun. Jin/Nin are suffixes or counters.

あの人(hito)は日本人(jin)です。

～人 vs 大人 (otona) vs 大人数 (oouninzuu)

Both relate to 'adult' or 'many people'.

Otona means 'adult'. Oouninzuu means 'a large number of people'.

大人は二人です。 VS 大人数でパーティーをする。

Structures de phrases

[Noun] が [Number]人います。

猫が三匹、人が二人います。

[Country] 人です。

私はアメリカ人です。

[Number]人で [Verb]。

二人で映画を見ました。

[Number]人の [Noun]。

五人の友達に会いました。

[Adjective] 人。

親切な人が多いです。

一人で [Verb]。

一人で勉強するのが好きです。

[Noun]人 (Suffix for roles).

彼は有名な料理人です。

[Compound Kanji with 人]。

人類の平和を願う。

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely High. It is one of the most used counters in the language.

Erreurs courantes

Saying 'Ichinin' for one person. → Hitori
Hitori is the mandatory irregular reading for counting one person.
Saying 'Yon-nin' for four people. → Yo-nin
The 'n' is dropped in the reading for four when counting people.
Using 'tsu' to count people (e.g., 'Kodomo ga hitotsu'). → Kodomo ga hitori
People must be counted with the human counter ～人, not the general object counter.
Saying 'Nihon-nin' for a Japanese person. → Nihon-jin
The reading for nationality is always 'jin', not 'nin'.
Using 'Hitori' to mean 'first person' in a race. → Ichi-ban
Hitori means 'one person', not 'first place'.

Astuces

The 1-2-3 Rule

Memorize 'Hitori, Futari, Sannin' as a rhythmic chant. Once you get past the first two, the rest are easy!

Floating Counters

Remember that counters usually 'float' after the particle. 'Gakusei ga sannin' is more common than 'Sannin no gakusei'.

Restaurant Etiquette

When a waiter asks 'Nan-mei-sama?', respond with '～人です' to sound natural and humble.

Group Identity

Using 'Futari de' or 'Sannin de' emphasizes that you are doing something as a unit, which is a key part of Japanese culture.

Stroke Order

Always draw the left leg of 人 first. It's a simple kanji, but correct stroke order helps with balance.

Nationality Suffix

Just add 'jin' to any country name. Amerika-jin, Nihon-jin, Igirisu-jin. It's the easiest way to describe origins.

Number 4 and 9

Listen closely for 'yo-nin' (4) and 'kyuu-nin' (9). They have specific readings when used with people.

No 'Ichinin'

Never use 'ichinin' for counting people. It's a dead giveaway that you're a beginner. Stick to 'hitori'.

Alone vs. One

Use 'hitori de' for 'alone'. 'Hitori de eiga o mimasu' (I watch a movie alone).

Polite Alternatives

Learn '～名' (mei) early so you aren't confused when you hear it in shops and hotels.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of the kanji 人 as a person walking. For the readings, remember: 'Hitori' (1) sounds like 'History' (one person's story), 'Futari' (2) sounds like 'Future' (two people building a future).

Association visuelle

Visualize the kanji 人 as a simple stick figure without arms, just two legs walking forward.

Word Web

Hitori Futari Sannin Nihon-jin Gaikoku-jin Nan-nin Otona Ningen

Défi

Try to count every person you see today in Japanese using the correct counter. Don't forget 'hitori' and 'futari'!

Origine du mot

The kanji 人 is a pictograph representing a person standing on two legs. It is one of the most ancient and fundamental characters in East Asian writing systems.

Sens originel : A human being.

Sino-Japanese (Kanji)

Contexte culturel

Be careful with 'Gaikoku-jin'. While standard, some people prefer 'Gaikoku no kata' to be more polite.

English speakers often forget counters entirely. In English, we just say 'three people'. In Japanese, the counter is grammatically mandatory.

The movie 'Seven Samurai' (Shichinin no Samurai). The proverb 'Jyuu-nin To-iro' (Ten people, ten colors). The concept of 'Hitoribocchi' (all alone) in many J-Pop songs.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At a Restaurant

何人ですか？
二人です。
三人の席はありますか？
一人で食べます。

Talking about Family

家族は何人ですか？
四人家族です。
兄弟が二人います。
一人っ子です。

At School/Work

学生が三十人います。
五人でグループを作ってください。
日本人が一人もいません。
何人でやりますか？

Travel/Sightseeing

外国人がたくさんいます。
イギリス人はいますか？
二人でチケットをください。
一人で行くのは危ないです。

Describing People

有名な人です。
いい人ですね。
知らない人が来ました。
あの人はだれですか？

Amorces de conversation

"家族は何人ですか？ (How many people are in your family?)"

"あなたの国には日本人がたくさんいますか？ (Are there many Japanese people in your country?)"

"今日は何人でここに来ましたか？ (How many people did you come here with today?)"

"一人で旅行するのが好きですか？ (Do you like traveling alone?)"

"有名な人に会ったことがありますか？ (Have you ever met a famous person?)"

Sujets d'écriture

私の家族について書きます。家族は～人です。 (Write about your family and how many people are in it.)

今日、何人の人に会いましたか？だれに会いましたか？ (How many people did you meet today? Who did you meet?)

一人でいるとき、何をしますか？ (What do you do when you are alone?)

あなたの国の人はどんな人ですか？ (What kind of people are the people in your country?)

将来、何人の子供が欲しいですか？ (How many children do you want in the future?)

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Japanese has two number systems: native Japanese (hitotsu, futatsu) and Sino-Japanese (ichi, ni). 'Hitori' and 'futari' come from the native system, while 'sannin' and onwards use the Sino-Japanese system. It's just a historical linguistic quirk you have to memorize.

No, pets are counted with ～匹 (hiki) for small animals or ～頭 (tou) for large ones. Using ～人 for pets is grammatically incorrect, though some people might do it jokingly to show they treat their pet like a human.

It is strictly 'yo-nin'. The 'n' from 'yon' is dropped when adding the counter 'nin'. This is a very common mistake for learners.

Use ～名 in formal situations, like making a restaurant reservation or in a business report. In casual conversation with friends or family, always use ～人.

'Hitori' is the noun/counter (one person). 'Hitori de' is an adverbial phrase meaning 'by oneself' or 'alone'. For example: 'Hitori imasu' (There is one person) vs 'Hitori de ikimasu' (I go alone).

You say 'Nan-nin' (何人). In formal settings, you might hear 'Nan-mei' (何名).

Yes, it can describe types of people, like 'bijin' (beautiful person) or 'henjin' (weirdo). It indicates a category or characteristic.

Both are correct. 'Nana-nin' is slightly more common in daily life because 'shichi' can be confused with 'ichi' (1). However, in formal titles like 'Seven Samurai', 'shichinin' is used.

You follow the standard pattern: 'jyuu-ichinin', 'nijyuu-ichinin'. The irregular 'hitori' and 'futari' only apply to 1 and 2, not 11, 12, 21, 22, etc.

It means 'each person' or 'one by one'. It emphasizes the individuality of each person in a group.