人口

• Reading: じんこう
• Romaji: jinkou
• Kanji breakdown: 人 (jin/nin/hito) — person, people; 口 (kou/kuchi) — mouth, opening
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.n.koː/

Meaning

Population. The total number of people living in a particular area.

A noun commonly found in geography, statistics, and news. Frequently used phrases include 人口が増える (population increases), 人口が減る (population decreases), and 人口密度 (population density). Japan's declining population (少子高齢化) is a major social topic.

Examples

1. 東京の人口は約千四百万人です。 The population of Tokyo is approximately 14 million.
2. この村の人口はどんどん減っています。 The population of this village keeps decreasing.
3. 日本は人口が多い国です。 Japan is a country with a large population.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, news, statistics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 人 (person) and 口 (mouth). The use of mouth as a counter for people is ancient, originating from the idea of counting mouths to feed.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal