How to say "mankind" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 人類じんるいnounCovers mankind and humanity as one collective — the human species or race as a whole, as in talk of the history or future of mankind. This is the word for that sense.
- 人間にんげんnounReally means 'human being': an individual person, or humans in general as opposed to animals or machines. For mankind as one collective whole, 人類 is the usual choice.
- nounSeldom the word you want for 'mankind': ひと really means a person, or people in general. For the collective, species-level sense of mankind, 人類 is the word to reach for.
Use 人類 for mankind as the whole human species or race; use 人間 for human beings individually or in general statements about humans; 「ひと」 chiefly means person or people and seldom carries the collective sense.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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