Readings: ミン (Onyomi), たみ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: people, nation, subjects
The kanji 民 depicts a person with a single eye, symbolizing a blind or subjugated individual. It originally represented a commoner or slave, someone under the control of a ruler. Over time, its meaning evolved to broadly refer to “people” or “the populace.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 民 begins with the vertical stroke, followed by the horizontal line connected to the bent stroke. Then, two short diagonal strokes are drawn, and finally, the long sweeping stroke completes the character.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氏 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 4 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- 民 (min)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 民 (tami)
Common Words Using 民
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 国民 | こくみん | nation’s people, citizen |
| 住民 | じゅうみん | resident, inhabitant |
| 民主主義 | みんしゅしゅぎ | democracy |
| 市民 | しみん | citizen, townspeople |
| 民族 | みんぞく | ethnic group, race |
| 移民 | いみん | immigrant, emigration |
| 難民 | なんみん | refugee |
| 庶民 | しょみん | common people |
| 国民性 | こくみんせい | national character |
| 民生 | みんせい | civilian life, people’s welfare |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 民 | たみ | people, commoner |
| 民草 | たみくさ | populace, common people (literary, archaic) |
| 民心 | たみごころ | popular sentiment (rare, poetic) |
| 赤子民 | あかごたみ | innocent people (very rare, poetic) |
| 民の声 | たみのこえ | voice of the people (phrase) |
| 国の民 | くにのたみ | people of the country (phrase) |
| 世の民 | よのたみ | people of the world (phrase) |
| 島の民 | しまのたみ | islanders (phrase) |
| 里の民 | さとのたみ | villagers (phrase) |
| 街の民 | まちのたみ | townspeople (phrase) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 日本の国民は平和を愛しています。
Kana: にほんの こくみんは へいわを あいしています。
Romaji: Nihon no kokumin wa heiwa o aishiteimasu.
English: The Japanese people love peace.
Japanese: この地域の住民は親切です。
Kana: この ちいきの じゅうみんは しんせつです。
Romaji: Kono chiiki no jūmin wa shinsetsu desu.
English: The residents of this area are kind.
Japanese: 民主主義は大切な政治の形です。
Kana: みんしゅしゅぎは たいせつな せいじの かたちです。
Romaji: Minshu shugi wa taisetsu na seiji no katachi desu.
English: Democracy is an important form of government.
Japanese: 市民活動に参加しましょう。
Kana: しみん かつどうに さんかしましょう。
Romaji: Shimin katsudō ni sankashimashō.
English: Let’s participate in citizen activities.
Japanese: 世界には様々な民族がいます。
Kana: せかいには さまざまな みんぞくが います。
Romaji: Sekai ni wa samazama na minzoku ga imasu.
English: There are various ethnic groups in the world.
Japanese: 彼は海外への移民を考えている。
Kana: かれは かいがいへの いみんを かんがえている。
Romaji: Kare wa kaigai e no imin o kangaeteiru.
English: He is considering emigration overseas.
Japanese: 紛争地域から多くの難民が来ました。
Kana: ふんそうちいきから おおくの なんみんが きました。
Romaji: Funsō chiiki kara ooku no nanmin ga kimashita.
English: Many refugees came from the conflict zone.
Japanese: 庶民の生活は厳しくなっています。
Kana: しょみんの せいかつは きびしくなっています。
Romaji: Shomin no seikatsu wa kibishiku natteimasu.
English: The life of common people is becoming difficult.
Japanese: 国民性はその国の文化に影響されます。
Kana: こくみんせいは その くにの ぶんかに えいきょうされます。
Romaji: Kokuminsei wa sono kuni no bunka ni eikyō saremasu.
English: National character is influenced by the culture of that country.
Japanese: 民生安定が政府の重要な課題です。
Kana: みんせいあんていが せいふの じゅうような かだいです。
Romaji: Minsei antei ga seifu no jūyō na kadai desu.
English: Stabilizing civilian life is an important task for the government.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.