ひとり・一人・１人・独りhitori[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
いちにんichinin
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Which spelling to use
一人一人 is the first-listed form and the recommended default for beginners. Use it as the ordinary written form when choosing among these variants.
１人１人 is less common than 一人 and combines a numeral with Latin script. You may encounter it as an alternative written form.
独り独り is less common than 一人 and is a mixed kanji-and-kana variant. Use 一人 rather than this form as a beginner.
Definitions
- nounone personesp. 一人, １人私は一人の弟がいます。↗I have one brother.
- nounbeing alone; being by oneself
- nounbeing single; being unmarriedesp. 独り
- adverbby oneself; alone
- adverbjust; only; simplywith neg. sentence
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym単独たんどくWrittenSino-Japanese word for being or acting alone; written/formal prose flavor, as in 「単独行動」 or 「単独で登る」.
- RelatedポツリNeutralMimetic word for standing all alone or uttering a single word, as in 「ポツリと立つ」 or 「ポツリと言う」; neutral register.
- AntonymみなNeutralNeutral antonym of 「一人」: everyone present, everybody.
- Antonym大勢おおぜいNeutralNeutral antonym of 「一人」: many people, a large crowd.
Default to 「一人」 for one person or being alone. For formal statements of acting alone use 「単独」; for a forlorn, solitary look or a single utterance use 「ぽつりと」. The antonyms 「皆」 and 「大勢」 point to groups — everyone present or a large crowd.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
See also
