How to say "humanity" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 人類じんるいnounHumanity in the sense of the human race as a whole — all people collectively. Typical when talking about the species, its history, or its future.
- 人道じんどうnounHumanity in the humanitarian sense: humane, compassionate treatment of people. Typical in contexts of humanitarian concern or conduct, where the point is mercy rather than the human species.
- 人情にんじょうnounHumanity as warm human feeling — kindness, sympathy, and empathy between people. Typical when describing someone's warmth or compassion in everyday dealings, rather than the species or abstract principles.
- 人文じんぶんnounA marginal match for 'humanity': the word is really about culture and civilization, and it is seldom what you want. Use it only where culture or civilization is meant.
- 人間性にんげんせいnounHumanity as human nature: the qualities that make a person human. Typical in discussions of character or of someone's humanity being lost or questioned.
Use 人類 for humanity as the human race, 人道 for humanitarian compassion, 人情 for warmth and sympathy between people, 人間性 for human nature or one's human qualities, and 人文 mainly for culture and civilization.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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