177
民
People, Citizens
たみ (tami)
JLPT N4
Interesting Fact
The ancient form of 民 is traditionally interpreted as a human eye being pierced with a sharp object. 👁️ According to the traditional etymological explanation, it depicted a person whose eye had been deliberately injured, representing an enslaved or powerless person. Over time, the character came to mean the common people and eventually simply the people / citizens. It's a disturbing reminder that some ancient Chinese characters preserved ideas about social status and power—not just everyday objects.
Memory Trick
“🐘 An elephant raises its trunk to welcome the people—that's 民!”
Readings
Onyomi: ミン (min)
Kunyomi: たみ (tami)
Example Words
国民
こくみん (kokumin)
Citizens
住民
じゅうみん (juumin)
Residents
人民
じんみん (jinmin)
People
市民
しみん (shimin)
Citizen
Example Sentence
市民は 新しい 公園を 喜びました。
しみんは あたらしい こうえんを よろこびました。
shimin wa atarashii kouen o yorokobimashita
The citizens were happy about the new park.