隣人

• Reading: りんじん
• Romaji: rinjin
• Kanji breakdown: 隣 (rin/tonari) — neighbouring, adjacent; 人 (jin) — person
• Pronunciation: /ɾiɴ.dʑiɴ/

Meaning

Neighbour; a person who lives nearby. Also used figuratively for people in the broader community.

A noun with a slightly literary or formal tone compared to the everyday お隣さん (otonari-san, neighbour). 隣人 is commonly found in written texts, news, and proverbs. The well-known expression 遠くの親類より近くの隣人 (a nearby neighbour is better than a distant relative) illustrates its cultural weight. Also used in religious and ethical contexts to mean 'fellow human' or 'one's neighbour' in a moral sense.

Examples

1. 隣人との良い関係を築くことが大切だ。 It's important to build a good relationship with your neighbors.
2. 引っ越してきたばかりなので、隣人にあいさつをした。 Since I'd just moved in, I went to introduce myself to my neighbors.
3. 災害時には隣人同士の助け合いが命を救うこともある。 In a disaster, neighbors helping each other can sometimes save lives.

Usage Guide

Context: community, daily life, ethics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 隣 (rin, neighbour/adjacent) + 人 (jin, person). The kanji 隣 depicts a settlement (阝) beside a granary, suggesting the house next door.

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal