Japanese Kanji for Person: 人 — Writing and Readings
The Japanese kanji for person is 人, with only 2 strokes, level N5. It is read as 'hito' (kun'yomi ひと) and 'nin/jin' (on'yomi ニン、ジン). The character depicts a figure standing on two legs. Counting people uses the same character: 一人 (hitori) — one person, 二人 (futari) — two people.
人 — two strokes leaning on each other. The Japanese like to explain it this way: a person stands because another supports them. Etymologically this is incorrect — the character derives from a figure in profile — but the explanation lives its own life and is repeated in school essays.
How to Write the Japanese Kanji for Person
人 — значение: person, people — онъёми: ジン、ニン — кунъёми: ひと、-り、-と — 2 штрих(ов). Level N5, 2 strokes. Click 'Show order' — the strokes will appear as in handwriting.
Three readings and when to use which
ひと (hito) — the standalone word 'person'. ジン (jin) — in nationality names: 日本人 (nihonjin) Japanese person, ロシア人 (roshiajin) Russian. ニン (nin) — in counting combinations and professions: 三人 (sannin) three people, 人形 (ningyō) doll.
Words with the Person Kanji
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 人 | hito · hito | Person |
| 日本人 | nihonjin · nihonjin | Japanese person |
| 一人 | hitori · hitori | One person, alone |
| 二人 | futari · futari | Two people |
| 大人 | otona · otona | Adult (exception: not read by parts) |
| 人気 | ninki · ninki | Popularity |
| 人間 | ningen · ningen | Human being, human as a species |
The 'person' radical in other characters
On the left, 人 compresses into 亻: 休 (rest — a person under a tree), 体 (body), 作 (to make), 住 (to live). This is one of the most common radicals: if it is present, the character is almost certainly about a person or their action.
Write 人 Yourself
Two strokes, but the order matters: first the left, then the right.
FAQ
- Which Japanese kanji means 'person'?
- 人 — 2 strokes, level N5. Kun'yomi ひと (hito), on'yomi ニン (nin) and ジン (jin).
- How do you say 'person' in Japanese?
- 人 (hito). 'Human being' is 人間 (ningen). Nationalities are formed by adding 人: 日本人 Japanese person, ロシア人 Russian.
- How do you count people in Japanese?
- 一人 (hitori) — one, 二人 (futari) — two, then by rule: 三人 (sannin), 四人 (yonin). The first two are exceptions, learned separately.
- What is the element 亻 in other kanji?
- It is the compressed form of 人 in the left position: 休 rest, 体 body, 住 to live, 作 to make. It indicates that the character is related to a person.
Updated: 2026-07-25