noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
human agency; artificiality; human work
Refers to something done by humans rather than occurring naturally. Often used in contrast to natural phenomena, especially in formal or technical contexts. The gloss 'art' is a rare, older usage.
This accident was caused by human error.
This accident was caused by human error.
人為と自然の境界について議論する。
We discuss the boundary between the artificial and the natural.
この森には人為が加わっていない。
No human intervention has affected this forest.
自然 means 'nature/natural' and is the direct opposite of 人為, which refers to human intervention or cause.
人力 refers to physical power or effort exerted by people, while 人為 refers to human action or artificiality, often implying intentional design rather than raw strength.
人為 refers broadly to human agency or human action as opposed to nature, while 作為 specifically denotes a deliberate, often unnatural or contrived act.
artificial; man-made; human-caused
human error
artificial classification
artificial selection
man-made disaster; human-induced disaster
Compound of 人 (human) and 為 (do, act). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'human action'.