人種

• Reading: じんしゅ
• Romaji: jinshu
• Kanji breakdown: 人 (jin) — person, human; 種 (shu) — type, species, seed
• Pronunciation: /dʑiɴ.ɕɯ/

Meaning

Race; ethnic group. A classification of humans based on physical characteristics.

A noun used to describe racial or ethnic categories of people. Commonly appears in contexts discussing diversity, discrimination, and social issues, such as 人種差別 (racial discrimination). While a standard academic and news term, conversations about race in Japanese society carry different cultural nuances than in Western contexts.

Examples

1. 人種差別はあってはならない。 Racial discrimination should not exist.
2. この街にはさまざまな人種の人が住んでいる。 People of various races live in this city.
3. 人種に関係なく、みんな平等だ。 Regardless of race, everyone is equal.

Usage Guide

Context: social issues, news, academia

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Composed of 人 (person, human) and 種 (seed, type, species). Together they mean 'type of human,' reflecting categorical classification of people.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal