Basic Meaning
The word "人" (ひと) primarily means "person" or "human being." It is used to refer to individuals in general, regardless of gender or age.
Common Uses
"人" is often used to talk about people in everyday conversation, such as identifying someone (あの人), counting people (多くの人), or describing qualities of a person (いい人).
Collocations and Patterns
- あの人 (that person): used to point out or refer to someone specific.
- 多くの人 (many people): used when talking about groups or populations.
- いい人 (good person): describes someone's character.
Usage Notes
"人" is a very common and neutral word. It can be combined with counters like "人" (にん) when counting people, but as a standalone noun, it refers to a person as an individual. Avoid confusing "人" (ひと) with the counter "人" (にん), which is pronounced differently depending on the number.
Register
This word is neutral and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.