noun
General word for a human individual. Used in counting people (一人, 二人) and in everyday reference.
あの人は誰ですか。
Who is that person?
駅で知らない人に話しかけられた。
A stranger spoke to me at the station.
noun
Refers to humans as a species or collective, often in contrast to animals, nature, or machines.
人は考える葦である。
Man is a thinking reed.
人は誰でも間違えることがある。
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
noun
Biological or anthropological term for the species Homo sapiens. Usually written in katakana as ヒト.
ヒトの進化について研究している。
I am researching the evolution of humans.
noun
Used when contrasting oneself with other people, or when talking about people in general outside one's own group.
人の意見を聞くのは大切だ。
It is important to listen to other people's opinions.
人に迷惑をかけてはいけない。
You must not cause trouble for others.
noun
character; personality; nature
Refers to a person's inner character or disposition. Often used in phrases like 人がいい (good-natured) or 人を見る (judge someone's character).
彼は人がいいから、頼みやすい。
He is good-natured, so it's easy to ask him for favors.
人を見る目がある。
She has an eye for judging people's character.
noun
capable person; right person
Used when identifying someone suitable for a task or role. Often in expressions like 人を得る (get the right person) or 人を探す (look for a suitable person).
この仕事にふさわしい人を探している。
We are looking for the right person for this job.
noun
Refers to an adult as opposed to a child. Often used in contexts like 人になる (become an adult) or 人として (as an adult).
もう人としての責任を持ちなさい。
Take responsibility as an adult now.
noun
Used when rebuking or criticizing someone, often in a self-referential way to emphasize the speaker's position. Can sound old-fashioned or rhetorical.
人をそんなふうに呼ぶんじゃない。
Don't call me like that! (literally: Don't call a person like that!)
人間 is more concrete and often refers to humans as social or moral beings, while 人 is broader and more neutral.
方 is the polite equivalent of 人 when referring to a person, used in formal contexts.
者 is a humble or formal term for a person, often used in set phrases or when referring to oneself modestly.
Native Japanese word. The kanji 人 is a pictograph of a person standing, used semantically. The reading ひと is of native origin, not derived from Chinese.