十人十色

• Reading: じゅうにんといろ
• Romaji: jūnin toiro
• Kanji breakdown: 十 (jū/tō) — ten; 人 (nin/hito) — person; 色 (iro) — colour, variety
• Pronunciation: /d͡ʑɯːniɴto̞iɾo̞/

Meaning

To each their own; different strokes for different folks. Every person has their own preferences and ways.

A four-character compound (四字熟語) meaning literally 'ten people, ten colours.' Used to express that people differ in their tastes, opinions, and approaches, and that this diversity is natural and to be expected. A neutral, accepting expression of individual difference.

Examples

1. 好みの食べ物は十人十色で、正解はない。 Favourite foods differ from person to person — there is no right answer.
2. 仕事のやり方は十人十色だから、一つの方法を押し付けるべきではない。 Because approaches to work vary from person to person, we shouldn't force a single method on everyone.
3. 十人十色とはいうが、ここまで意見が分かれるとは思わなかった。 They say to each their own, but I didn't expect opinions to be this divided.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday speech, philosophy, social commentary

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Japanese four-character compound: 十人 (ten people) + 十色 (ten colours). The symmetry of the structure emphasises that each individual has their own distinct character.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal