Sannins

Sannins is a term that appears in several contexts, most often as a romanized form of the Japanese word sannin (三人), meaning “three people.” It functions as the counter for people and is gender-neutral. When used in counting, it describes a group consisting of exactly three individuals, and it is commonly encountered in everyday language, rosters, or small team designations. The kanji for the concept is 三人 and it is typically read san-nin.

In popular culture, sannin also appears as a proper noun. The Legendary Sannin, a well-known phrase in the Naruto franchise, refers to a trio of famous ninja: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. In this context, the term is capitalized and treated as a title rather than a mere numeric descriptor.

Other uses and scope: There is no single, widely recognized organization or concept named “Sannins” beyond its linguistic function and occasional pop culture reference. The term may appear in linguistic discussions of Japanese counting or as a fictional group name in various works, but it is not a standard designation in history, science, or geography.