Japanese dictionary
How to say "man" in Japanese
男の人おとこのひと · otoko no hito
"Man" in Japanese is 男の人 (otoko no hito) in conversation, or 男性 (dansei) in polite and formal contexts.
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Ways to say "man" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 男の人おとこのひと · otoko no hito | Man. Everyday word. |
| 男性だんせい · dansei | Man; male. Polite and formal. |
| 男おとこ · otoko | Man. Can sound blunt. |
How to use it
男 (otoko) alone can sound rough when referring to someone.
Restroom signs use 男性 or 男, often in blue.
Example sentences
- あの男の人はだれですか。Ano otoko no hito wa dare desu ka.Who is that man?
- 男性用のトイレは左です。Danseiyō no toire wa hidari desu.The men's restroom is on the left.
- 受付に男性のお客様がいらっしゃいました。Uketsuke ni dansei no okyakusama ga irasshaimashita.A male visitor has arrived at reception.
- このクラスは男性が多いです。Kono kurasu wa dansei ga ōi desu.There are many men in this class.
- 駅で男の人に道を聞きました。Eki de otoko no hito ni michi o kikimashita.I asked a man at the station for directions.
- 男の子が二人います。Otoko no ko ga futari imasu.I have two boys.
Kanji in this word
Questions
What is the difference between 男の人 and 男性?
男の人 (otoko no hito) is everyday speech. 男性 (dansei) is polite and used at work, in stores and in writing.
How do you say "men's restroom" in Japanese?
Say 男性用トイレ (danseiyō toire). Signs may also just show 男.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.