一人

Chinese

		one; single; a one; single; a; (before verbs) as soon as, once; (before a noun) entire (family, etc.)	man; person; people
simp. and trad. (一人)		一	人

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): yīrén

  (Zhuyin): ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): jat¹ jan⁴
• Min Nan (POJ): chi̍t-lâng

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: yīrén [Phonetic: yìrén]
    • Zhuyin: ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: yirén
    • Wade–Giles: i¹-jên²
    • Yale: yī-rén
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: iren
    • Palladius: ижэнь (ižɛnʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: jat¹ jan⁴
    • Yale: yāt yàhn
    • Cantonese Pinyin: jat⁷ jan⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: yed¹ yen⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹/
• Min Nan
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chi̍t-lâng
    • Tâi-lô: tsi̍t-lâng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: cidlaang
    • IPA (Xiamen): /t͡ɕit̚⁴⁻³² laŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡ɕit̚²⁴⁻² laŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡ɕit̚¹²¹⁻²¹ laŋ¹³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /t͡ɕit̚⁴⁻³² laŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡ɕit̚⁴⁻³² laŋ²³/

Noun

一人

1. a person; one person; someone

   這件事並非你一人之力能夠定乾坤的。 [MSC, trad.]
   这件事并非你一人之力能够定乾坤的。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè jiàn shì bìngfēi nǐ yīrén zhī lì nénggòu dìng qiánkūn de. [Pinyin]

   This course of events cannot be determined by you alone.

2. (historical) emperor

Adverb

一人

1. by one person; alone
2. one person each

   一人一個／一人一个  ―  yīrén yīge  ―  one each (literally, “one for each person”)

   你兩個一人少句啦！ [Cantonese, trad.]
   你两个一人少句啦！ [Cantonese, simp.]

   nei⁵ loeng⁵ go³ jat¹ jan⁴ siu² geoi³ laa¹! [Jyutping]

   You two, stop quarrelling! (literally, “You two, each speak a sentence less!”)

Synonyms

• (Hakka) 單儕／单侪

Derived terms

• 一人得道，雞犬升天／一人得道，鸡犬升天 (yīréndédào, jīquǎnshēngtiān)

• 一人樂隊／一人乐队 (yīrén yuèduì)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (一人):

• → Japanese: 一人(いちにん) (ichinin)

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Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
一	人
ひと Grade: 1	り Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Alternative spellings
独り 1人

From Old Japanese.

Derived from 一 (hito, “one, 1”) +‎ 人 (-ri, counter for persons).

Compare Old Japanese 一人 (pi₁dari → hidari).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ひと​り [hìtóꜜrì] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [çi̥to̞ɾʲi]

Noun

一(ひと)人(り) • (hitori) 

1. one person

   一人(ひとり)で暮(く)らす ― hitori de kurasu ― to live by oneself (without companions)

   一人(ひとり)カラオケ／ヒトカラ ― hitori karaoke/hitokara ― one-man karaoke session

   一人(ひとり)の時間(じかん)が好(す)きな人(ひと) ― hitori no jikan ga suki na hito ― person who likes their alone time

2. singleness, singularity

   Synonym: 単独 (tandoku)

3. one's own efforts or strengths

   Synonyms: 自力 (jiriki), 独力 (dokuryoku)

4. an unmarried person, single

   Synonym: 独身 (dokushin)

Usage notes

• Like 二人 (futari), despite its etymology, furigana notations for this word tend not to use mono-ruby by attaching kana to each kanji (一(ひと)人(り)), but group-ruby by attaching all the kana to all the kanji as a whole (一人(ひとり)).

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 一人(ひとり)一人(ひとり) (hitori-hitori), 一人(ひとり)一人(びとり) (hitoribitori)
• 一人(ひとり)として (hitori to shite)
• 一人(ひとり)ならず (hitori narazu)
• 一人(ひとり)も (hitori mo)
• 一人(ひとり)頭(あたま) (hitoriatama)
• 一人(ひとり)歩(ある)き (hitoriaruki)
• 一人(ひとり)親(おや) (hitori oya)
• 一人(ひとり)親(おや)方(かた) (hitori oyakata)
• 一人(ひとり)勝(が)ち (hitorigachi)
• ひとカラ, ヒトカラ (hitokara)
• 一人(ひとり)狂言(きょうげん) (hitori-kyōgen)
• 一人(ひとり)口(ぐち) (hitoriguchi)
• 一人(ひとり)暮(ぐら)し, 一人(ひとり)暮(ぐ)らし (hitori-gurashi)
• 一人(ひとり)っ子(こ) (hitorikko)
• 一人(ひとり)言(ごと) (hitorigoto)
• 一人(ひとり)御(ご)飯(はん) (hitori gohan)
• 一人(ひとり)時(じ)間(かん)差(さ)攻撃(こうげき) (hitori jikan-sa kōgeki), 一人(ひとり)時(じ)間(かん)差(さ) (hitori jikan-sa)
• 一人(ヒトリ)静(シズカ) (hitorishizuka)
• 一人(ひとり)芝(しば)居(い) (hitori-shibai)
• 一人(ひとり)占(じ)め (hitorijime)
• 一人(ひとり)過(す)ぎ (hitorisugi)
• 一人(ひとり)相撲(ずもう) (hitorizumō)
• 一人(ひとり)旅(たび) (hitoritabi)
• 一人(ひとり)天(てん)下(か) (hitori tenka), 一人(ひとり)天下(でんか) (hitori-denka)
• 一人(ひとり)食(ば)み (hitoribami)
• 一人(ひとり)負(ま)け (hitorimake)
• 一人(ひとり)腹(ばら) (hitoribara)
• 一人(ひとり)前(まえ) (hitorimae)
• 一人(ひとり)武(む)者(しゃ) (hitorimusha)
• 一人(ひとり)息子(むすこ) (hitori musuko)
• 一人(ひとり)娘(むすめ) (hitori musume)
• 一人(ひとり)八(や)百(お)長(ちょう) (hitori yaochō)
• 御(お)一人(ひとり)様(さま) (o-hitori-sama)
• 最(さい)初(しょ)の一人(ひとり) (Saisho no Hitori)
• 誰(だれ)一人(ひとり) (dare hitori), 誰(たれ)一人(ひとり) (tare hitori)
• 人(ひと)っ子(こ)一人(ひとり) (hitokko hitori)

Idioms

• 小(こ)姑(じゅうと)一人(ひとり)は鬼(おに)千(せん)匹(びき)にむかう (kojūto hitori wa oni senbiki ni mukau)
• 鯛(たい)も一人(ひとり)はうまからず (tai mo hitori wa umakarazu)
• 斗(と)南(なん)の一人(ひとり) (tonan no hitori)

Proverbs

• 娘(むすめ)一人(ひとり)に婿(むこ)八(はち)人(にん) (musume hitori ni muko hachinin)

See also

See also

• 自(じ)分(ぶん) (jibun, “oneself”)
• 二人(ふたり) (futari, “two persons”)
• 三人(みたり) (mitari, “three people”)
• 四人(よたり) (yotari), 四人(よったり) (yottari, “four people”)
• 十人(とたり) (totari, “ten people”)

Adverb

一(ひと)人(り) • (hitori) 

1. solely

   Synonym: 単独で (tandoku de)

2. only, simply

   Synonyms: ただ (tada), ただ単に (tada tan ni), 単に (tan ni)

3. alone, automatically, by itself, naturally

   Synonyms: 自然に (jinen ni), 独りでに (hitoride ni)

Proper noun

一(ひと)人(り) • (Hitori) 

1. a female given name

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
一	人
いち Grade: 1	にん Grade: 1
goon

Alternative spelling
1人

From Middle Chinese 一人 (MC ʔiɪt̚ ȵiɪn).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) いち​にん [ìchíꜜnìǹ] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [it͡ɕiɲ̟ĩɴ]

Noun

一(いち)人(にん) • (ichinin) 

1. one person
2. the first or top person in a particular place or field
3. Synonym of 右大臣 (udaijin): a minister of the right in the imperial Council of State

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 一(いち)人(にん)一(いっ)殺(さつ) (ichinin'issatsu)
• 一(いち)人(にん)会(かい)社(しゃ) (ichinin kaisha)
• 一(いち)人(にん)区(く) (ichinin-ku)
• 一(いち)人(にん)称(しょう) (ichininshō)
• 一(いち)人(にん)当(とう)千(せん) (ichinin tōsen)
• 一(いち)人(にん)前(まえ) (ichininmae)
• 上(かみ)一(いち)人(にん) (kami ichinin)
• 上(かみ)御(ご)一(いち)人(にん) (kami go-ichinin)
• 第(だい)一(いち)人(にん)者(しゃ) (daiichininsha)

Idioms

• 一人(いちにん)虚(きょ)を伝(つた)うれば万(ばん)人(にん)実(じつ)を伝(つた)う (ichinin kyo o tsutaureba bannin jitsu o tsutau)
• 責(せ)め一人(いちにん)に帰(き)す (seme ichinin ni kisu)
• 斗(と)南(なん)の一人(いちにん) (tonan no ichinin)

Proverbs

Proverbs

• 剣(けん)は一(いち)人(にん)の敵(てき)学(まな)ぶに足(た)らず (ken wa ichinin no teki manabu ni tarazu)
• 天(てん)下(か)は一(いち)人(にん)の天(てん)下(か)にあらず乃(すなわ)ち天(てん)下(か)の天(てん)下(か)なり (tenka wa ichinin no tenka ni arazu sunawachi tenka no tenka nari)
• 万人(ばんじん)心(こころ)を異(こと)にすれば則(すなわ)ち一(いち)人(にん)の用(よう)無(な)し (banjin kokoro o koto ni sureba sunawachi ichinin no yō nashi)
• 両(りょう)心(しん)は以(もっ)て一(いち)人(にん)を得(う)べからず一心(いっしん)は以(もっ)て百(ひゃく)人(にん)を得(う)べし (ryōshin wa motte ichinin o ubekarazu isshin wa motte hyakunin o ubeshi)

See also

See also

• 二(に)人(にん) (ninin, “two persons”)
• 三(さん)人(にん) (sannin, “three people”)
• 四(よ)人(にん) (yonin, “four people”),
• 五(ご)人(にん) (gonin, “five people”)
• 七(しち)人(にん) (shichinin), 七人(ななにん) (nananin, “seven people”)
• 八(はち)人(にん) (hachinin, “eight people”)
• 十(じゅう)人(にん) (jūnin, “ten people”)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
一	人
いち Grade: 1	じん Grade: 1
goon	kan’on

Compound of Middle Chinese elements 一 (ichi, “one, 1”, goon reading) +‎ 人 (jin, “person”, kan'on reading).

Pronunciation

• On’yomi
• (Tokyo) いち​じん [ìchíꜜjìǹ] (Nakadaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [it͡ɕiʑĩɴ]

Noun

一(いち)人(じん) • (ichijin) 

1. a ruler with a heavenly mandate, especially the Emperor of Japan

   Synonyms: 上一人 (kami ichinin), 上御一人 (kami go-ichinin), 天子 (tenshi), 天皇 (tennō)

Derived terms

• 上(かみ)一(いち)人(じん) (kami ichijin)

Etymology 4

Various nanori readings.

Proper noun

一人(かずと) or 一人(かずひと) or 一人(かずんど) or 一人(くにひと) • (Kazuto or Kazuhito or Kazundo or Kunihito) 

1. a male given name

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Old Japanese

Alternative forms

• 獨り

Etymology 1

From 一 (pi₁to₂, “one, 1”) +‎ 人 (-ri, counter for persons).

Noun

一人 (pi₁to₂ri) (kana ひとり)

1. one person
   • c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 5, poem 818), text here

     波流佐禮婆麻豆佐久耶登能烏梅能波奈比等利美都都夜波流比久良佐武

     paru sareba madu saku yado₁ no₂ ume₂ no₂ pana pi₁to₂ri mi₁tutu ya parupi₁ kurasamu

     When spring comes and the first plums bloom in your garden, could you spend the long spring days looking on them by yourself?

2. an unmarried person, single
   • 711–712, Kojiki (poem 65)

     夜多能比登母登須宜波比登理袁理登母意富岐彌斯與斯登岐許佐婆比登理袁理登母

     Yata no₂ pi₁to₂mo₂to₂ suge₂ pa pi₁to₂ri wori to₂ mo₂ opoki₁mi₁ si yo₂si to₂ ki₁ko₂saba pi₁to₂ri wori to₂ mo₂

     Though like the single stalk of Yata sedge, I remain alone, if Your Majesty agrees, It will not matter that I remain alone.

Derived terms

• 一人子 (pi₁to₂rigo₁)

Descendants

• Japanese: 一人, 独り (hitori)

See also

• 樫の實の (kasi no₂ mi₂ no₂), pillow word that can allude to pi₁to₂ri

Etymology 2

Two possible derivations:

• From 一 (pi₁-, short form of pi₁to₂, “one, 1”) +‎ 人 (-tari, counter for persons). However, pi₁- was never attested as a short form of pi₁to₂ until the Middle Japanese stage.
• Alternatively, a shift from 一 (pi₁to₂, “one, 1”) +‎ 人 (-tari, counter for persons):

  ⟨pi₁to₂ tari⟩ → */pʲit̚tari/ → ⟨pi₁dari⟩

Given the shift of -ta to -da due to rendaku (連濁), the second derivation seems likely.

Noun

一人 (pi₁dari) (kana ひだり)

1. (rare, possibly regional, Eastern Old Japanese) one person
   • 720, Nihon Shoki (poem 11)

     愛瀰詩烏毗儾利毛毛那比苔比苔破易陪廼毛多牟伽毗毛勢儒

     Emi₁si wo pi₁dari momo na pi₁to₂ pi₁to₂ pa ipe₂do₂ mo tamukapi₁ mo sezu

     A single Emishi is worth a hundred men, so they say, yet they did not resist.