Translation guide
The English word 'human' can refer to the species, an individual person, or human qualities. Japanese uses different words depending on whether you mean humans as a biological species, a person in contrast to animals or machines, or the abstract concept of humanity.
Referring to the human species, Homo sapiens, often in scientific or objective contexts.
The most common and versatile word for 'human' or 'human being'. Used in everyday speech and writing to refer to humans as a species or as individuals with human nature.
人間は社会的な動物だ。
Humans are social animals.
人間の脳はとても複雑だ。
The human brain is very complex.
Refers to humanity as a whole, mankind. Often used in historical, anthropological, or global contexts.
人類の歴史は戦争の歴史でもある。
The history of humanity is also a history of war.
Scientific term for Homo sapiens, often used in biology or anthropology. Written in katakana.
ヒトの進化について研究している。
I'm researching human evolution.
Referring to a single human being, often in contrast to animals, robots, or supernatural beings.
Also used for an individual human. Context makes it clear whether you mean the species or a person.
彼はいい人間だ。
He is a good human being.
ロボットではなく、人間がやるべきだ。
A human should do it, not a robot.
General word for 'person'. More common than 人間 when simply referring to people in daily life, but less emphatic about 'human' as opposed to other entities.
あの人は誰ですか。
Who is that person?
Describing attributes, emotions, or flaws that are typically human.
An adjective meaning 'human-like' or 'humane', often used to describe warmth, imperfection, or natural behavior.
失敗するのは人間らしい。
Making mistakes is human.
彼の人間らしい温かさが好きだ。
I like his human warmth.
Humanity, human nature, or the quality of being humane. Often used in discussions of character or ethics.
Human kindness, sympathy, or the warmth of human relationships. Often used in literary or emotional contexts.
Emphasizing mortal, earthly existence in contrast to gods, spirits, or the divine.
Again, 人間 is the default. In religious or mythological contexts, it clearly means mortal humans.
神と人間の違いは何か。
What is the difference between gods and humans?
Also used, but 人間 is more explicit for the contrast.
人は神ではない。
Humans are not gods.
人間 (にんげん) is the most common word for 'human' as a species or individual with human nature. 人類 (じんるい) is 'humanity' as a collective, often in academic or global contexts. 人 (ひと) simply means 'person' and is used in everyday counting and identification, but doesn't carry the same 'human' emphasis.
The loanword ヒューマン (hyuuman) exists but is mainly used in compounds like ヒューマンエラー (human error) or ヒューマンリソース (human resources). It is not a natural standalone word for 'human'.
His actions make me doubt his humanity.
この町には人情が残っている。
This town still has human warmth.