Hitobito is the standard way to refer to a collective group of people in both formal and narrative contexts.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to a group of multiple people.
- Used for general or unspecified crowds.
- Commonly used in formal and written contexts.
一般的な文脈：人々の生活、人々の考え、人々の意見など、社会的な文脈で頻繁に登場します。また、歴史的な背景や特定の地域社会を語る際にも多用されます。
- 1類似語との比較：「みんな」はより親しい間柄で使われる口語的表現です。「人間」は生物学的な種や道徳的な存在としての側面を強調します。「人々」は、それらの中間的な立ち位置で、客観的かつ広い範囲を指すのに適しています。
Examples
多くの人々が駅に集まっています。
everydayMany people are gathering at the station.
人々の意見を尊重する必要があります。
formalIt is necessary to respect the opinions of the people.
昔の人々は星を見て時間を知りました。
informalPeople in the past knew the time by looking at the stars.
人々の行動様式は文化に大きく依存する。
academicPatterns of human behavior depend largely on culture.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
人々を導く
To lead people
人々の心
People's hearts
人々の生活
People's lives
Often Confused With
Minna is colloquial and used for people you know or a small group. Hitobito is formal and refers to a vague, large group.
Ningen refers to humans as a species or focuses on character. Hitobito focuses on the collective count of individuals.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Hitobito is typically used in formal or literary contexts to refer to a collective group. It is rarely used in casual one-on-one conversation. Avoid using it with specific numbers, as it implies a generic, uncountable crowd.
Common Mistakes
The most common error is using 'hitobito' with a specific number (e.g., '3-nin no hitobito'). Another mistake is using it to address people directly, which sounds unnatural. Always use it as a third-person descriptive noun.
Tips
Use for generalizing social groups
When describing the opinions or actions of a large group, 'hitobito' sounds natural and professional. It helps to generalize without pointing to specific individuals.
Avoid with specific numbers
Do not use 'hitobito' when you have a specific count like 'three people'. Use 'sannin' instead.
Respectful collective reference
In Japanese, using 'hitobito' shows a level of respect and detachment that is appropriate for formal writing or speeches.
Word Origin
The word is a reduplication of the kanji '人' (person). Reduplication is a common grammatical feature in Japanese to indicate plurality.
Cultural Context
In Japanese culture, 'hitobito' is often used in public announcements or formal writing to show respect to the audience as a whole. It avoids singling out individuals, which aligns with the cultural preference for group harmony.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Hito-bito' as 'Person-person', a repeating sound that creates a crowd. It's like saying 'people-people' to emphasize a large group.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions「人」は単数でも複数でも使えますが、「人々」は確実に複数を強調します。より客観的で広い範囲を指したい場合は「人々」を使うのが適切です。
「人々」は集合的な概念なので、具体的な数字を伴う場合は使いません。例えば「5人の人々」とは言わず「5人の人」と言います。
「みんな」は話し言葉で、身近な集団を指します。「人々」は書き言葉や公的な場で使われる、より硬い表現です。
はい、可能です。「人々は平和を願っている」のように、一般論を語る文の主語として非常によく使われます。
Test Yourself
世界中の___が平和を望んでいる。
「世界中の」という広い範囲を指す場合、「人々」が最も自然です。
「人々」の使い方が正しいのはどれですか？
「人々」は不特定多数の集団に使い、具体的な数や個人所有と結びつけることはありません。
（多くの / が / 訪れる / その公園には / 人々）
場所を示す「その公園には」が文頭に来るのが自然な語順です。
Score: /3
Summary
Hitobito is the standard way to refer to a collective group of people in both formal and narrative contexts.
- Refers to a group of multiple people.
- Used for general or unspecified crowds.
- Commonly used in formal and written contexts.
Use for generalizing social groups
When describing the opinions or actions of a large group, 'hitobito' sounds natural and professional. It helps to generalize without pointing to specific individuals.
Avoid with specific numbers
Do not use 'hitobito' when you have a specific count like 'three people'. Use 'sannin' instead.
Respectful collective reference
In Japanese, using 'hitobito' shows a level of respect and detachment that is appropriate for formal writing or speeches.
Examples
4 of 4多くの人々が駅に集まっています。
Many people are gathering at the station.
人々の意見を尊重する必要があります。
It is necessary to respect the opinions of the people.
昔の人々は星を見て時間を知りました。
People in the past knew the time by looking at the stars.
人々の行動様式は文化に大きく依存する。
Patterns of human behavior depend largely on culture.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
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活動
B1A thing that a person or group does or has done; the state of being active.
実態
B1The actual condition or reality of a situation, especially as opposed to how it is supposed to be or how it appears.
行政
B1Administration or government.
アメリカ
A1America.
権威
B1The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience, or a person with expert knowledge. Frequently used in IELTS when discussing leadership or academic expertise.
恩恵
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偏向
B2A bias, lean, or inclination toward a specific direction or ideology, often used to describe media or political views.
候補者
B2A person who is being considered for a position, an award, or an office; a candidate.
慈善
B2Help or money given to those in need; an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.
育児
B2The process of caring for and raising a child from birth until they are independent.
