Meaning and Usage
The word 人命 (じんめい) specifically refers to human life, often emphasizing its preciousness and importance, especially in contexts involving safety, emergencies, or accidents. It is a formal term commonly used in news reports, official statements, and discussions about life-and-death situations.
Common Contexts
You will often see 人命 used in contexts such as disaster response, accident reports, and emergency services. It highlights the value of life and the urgency to protect or save it.
Collocations and Patterns
- 人命を守る (じんめいをまもる): to protect human life — used when emphasizing safety measures.
- 人命救助 (じんめいきゅうじょ): rescue of human lives — common in emergency and rescue contexts.
- 人命が失われる (じんめいがうしなわれる): human lives are lost — used in reports of accidents or disasters.
Register and Nuance
人命 is a formal and serious word. It is not used casually in everyday conversation but rather in formal or written contexts. When talking about life in a more general or casual sense, words like 命 (いのち) might be used instead.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 人命 with 命. While 命 can refer to life in a broad or poetic sense, 人命 specifically refers to human life, often in contexts involving safety or emergencies. Use 人命 when emphasizing the value or protection of human life in serious contexts.