also: しにん
private individual; private citizen
Refers to a person in their private capacity, as opposed to an official or public role. Often used in legal, political, or formal contexts.
He spoke as a private individual, not as a public figure.
Protecting the rights of private individuals is important.
私人 is a person acting in a private capacity, the direct opposite of 公人, who acts in an official or public role.
詩人 (a poet) sounds exactly like 私人 (a private individual, as opposed to a public official), so listeners must rely on context to tell them apart.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading しじん is the most common.
Rare alternate reading; しじん is overwhelmingly preferred.
Compound of 私 (private) and 人 (person). The reading しじん is the standard on'yomi; しにん is a less common variant.