三さん人にん

also: みたり

さ

ん

に

ん

Common wordJLPTN5

Meanings

1

noun

three people

Standard counter for three persons. Used in all registers.

三人
- さんにん
  Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and everyday use.
- みたり
  rarely-used kana form
３人
- さんにん
  Common in informal writing, lists, or when numerals are preferred.
- みたり
  rarely-used kana form
みたり
rarely-used kana form
Rarely used kana form; archaic or literary counting of three people.

二人ふたり
二人 means 'two people' and uses the irregular reading ふたり, while 三人 uses the regular on'yomi reading さんにん.
四よ人にん
四人 means 'four people' and uses the irregular reading よにん, while 三人 uses the regular on'yomi reading さんにん.

Compound of 三 (san, 'three') and 人 (nin, counter for people). The reading みたり is an older native Japanese counting form, now rare.