Hitobito

Hitobito (ひとびと, 人々) is a Japanese noun that refers to people or humans as a group. It is the plural or collective form of hito (person) and is used when speaking of people in general rather than a specific individual.

Etymology and form: The common written form is 人々, with the kanji 人 meaning person and the repetition mark 々 indicating plurality. The reading hitobito follows the kana form ひとびと. The reduplication conveys a sense of people as a collective or crowd; in many contexts, it has a neutral or slightly literary tone.

Usage: Hitobito is used to refer to people in general, humanity, or crowds. In everyday conversation, more casual terms like minasan (みなさん) or minna (みんな) are common, but hitobito appears in formal, literary, or ethical discussions, or when emphasizing humanity as a group rather than individuals.

In culture and media, hitobito may appear in titles or narratives to foreground collective human experience, morality, or social relations. It is also found in religious or philosophical discourse when drawing attention to people as a species or community.

See also: Hito (person) and 人々 (the kanji form).