一人

• Reading: ひとり
• Romaji: hitori
• Kanji breakdown: 一 (ichi/hito) — one; 人 (jin/ri) — person
• Pronunciation: /çi.to.ɾi/

Meaning

One person; alone; by oneself. Being without company or assistance.

A fundamental counter and noun meaning 'one person,' also used adverbially to mean 'alone/by oneself.' Key expressions: 一人で (hitori de, alone/by oneself), 一人暮らし (hitorigurashi, living alone), 一人っ子 (hitorikko, only child). Can also imply being single or unmarried in context. The kanji writing 一人 is standard, while 独り emphasizes solitude or independence.

Examples

1. 大学に入ってから一人暮らしを始めた。 I started living alone after entering college.
2. 一人で映画を見に行くのも悪くない。 Going to see a movie by yourself isn't bad either.
3. 彼女は一人で会社を立ち上げた。 She started a company all by herself.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, counting, independence

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 一 (hito/ichi, one) and 人 (ri/jin, person). The native Japanese reading ひとり predates the Sino-Japanese counting system. The irregular reading reflects ancient Japanese numerals.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal