人物（じんぶつ、jinbutsu）
- person/character

The Japanese word 人物 (じんぶつ, jinbutsu) primarily means "person," "character," or "figure." It refers to an individual, often focusing on their characteristics, role, or significance. It can describe a real person, a fictional character, or someone important in a particular field. The meaning often extends beyond just the physical presence to encompass a person's personality, attributes, or actions.

⚫︎歴史上の人物 ・Translation: Historical figure ⚫︎小説の登場人物 ・Translation: Character in a novel ⚫︎彼は会社にとって重要な人物だ ・Translation: He is an important figure for the company.

You can use 人物 in various contexts when discussing people. ⚫︎When talking about someone's role or position. ⚫︎When discussing characters in stories or plays. ⚫︎When referring to well-known or significant individuals. ⚫︎When describing someone's attributes or qualities that make them stand out. Remember to consider the context to convey the intended nuance accurately.

人物 is typically written in kanji. ・Reading: じんぶつ (hiragana) ・Kanji: 人物 There are no variations in the okurigana. The word is always written as 人物.

⚫︎人 (ひと, hito): person, people ⚫︎人（ひと）: person ⚫︎人間 (にんげん, ningen): human being ⚫︎キャラクター (kyarakutaa): character (borrowed from English) ⚫︎人物（じんぶつ）: figure, person

There aren't direct antonyms for 人物, but you could consider the absence of a person or a lack of character as indirect opposites, depending on the context.

その映画は、実在の人物をモデルにしている。 ・Translation: That movie is based on a real person. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 人物 to refer to a real individual who served as the basis for the film's character.

彼は、そのプロジェクトの主要な人物だ。 ・Translation: He is a key figure in that project. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 人物 to indicate that someone holds a significant role.

The word 人物 is composed of two kanji: 人 (ひと, hito), meaning "person" or "human," and 物 (もの, mono), meaning "thing," "object," or, in this context, "a being" or "a creature." Combining these kanji creates the concept of a "person" or "individual" as a distinct "being" or "entity."