皆

• Reading: みな
• Romaji: mina
• Kanji breakdown: 皆 (kai/mina) — everyone, all
• Pronunciation: /mi.na/

Meaning

Everyone; all; everybody. Refers to all members of a group.

A noun and pronoun with two common readings: みな (slightly formal) and みんな (casual, more common in speech). 皆さん (minasan) is the polite form used to address a group. Very frequently used in both spoken and written Japanese. Can refer to people or sometimes things (皆同じ, all the same).

Examples

1. 皆さん、おはようございます。 Good morning, everyone.
2. 皆で一緒に写真を撮りましょう。 Let's all take a photo together.
3. 皆が楽しめるイベントを企画しています。 We're planning an event that everyone can enjoy.

Usage Guide

Context: groups, greetings, collective activities

Tone: inclusive

Origin & History

The kanji 皆 combines 比 (hi, to compare/line up) with 白 (haku, white/clear). The image is of people lined up together — everyone visible and accounted for.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal