仁

See also: 忈

仁	U+4EC1, 仁 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EC1

← 什
[U+4EC0]

CJK Unified Ideographs

仂 →
[U+4EC2]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

仁 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+2, 4 strokes, cangjie input 人一一 (OMM), four-corner 2121₀, composition ⿰亻二)

Derived characters

𣲚, 𣏴, 𭸹, 𥄰, 𫴮, 𠣒, 芢, 𬿎, 𦓍, 𡛉, 佞

Descendants

に (Hiragana character derived from Man'yōgana)
ニ (Katakana character derived from Man'yōgana)

References

KangXi: page 91, character 7
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 349
Dae Jaweon: page 193, character 1
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 107, character 1
Unihan data for U+4EC1

Chinese

simp. and trad.		仁
alternative forms		𡰥忎忈

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 仁

Warring States

Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)

Liushutong (compiled in Ming)

Bronze inscriptions

Chu slip and silk script

Qin slip script

Ancient script

Small seal script

Transcribed ancient scripts

**Bronze inscriptions**
b12242

**Small seal script**
s05656

**Transcribed ancient scripts**
L31211	L31212	L31213	L31214	L31215	L31216	L31217	L31218
L04651	L04652	L04653	L04654	L04655

References:

Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation),
which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:

Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (人) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
千	*sn̥ʰiːn
仟	*sn̥ʰiːn
芊	sn̥ʰiːn, sn̥ʰiːns
阡	*sn̥ʰiːn
汘	*sn̥ʰiːn
迁	*sn̥ʰiːn
杄	*sn̥ʰiːn
人	*njin
仁	*njin
朲	*njin
佞	*neːŋs

Phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *njin) : phonetic 人 (OC *njin) + semantic 二.

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s/k-niŋ (“heart; brain; mind”) (Schuessler, 2007; STEDT). Cognate with Tangkhul Naga ning (“mind”), Manipuri ꯄꯨꯛꯅꯤꯡ (pukning, “heart; mind”), Kinnauri [script needed] (stiŋ, “heart”), Garo taning (“brain”), Ngochang Achang nhaiqlom (“heart”), Bisu นืงบา (nɨŋba, “heart”). Possibly related to Tibetan ཉིང (nying, “pith, essence”) (Schuessler, 2007).

For a parallel semantic development, compare Tibetan སྙིང་རྗེ (snying rje, “compassion; kindness; mercy”), from Tibetan སྙིང (snying, “heart; mind”).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): rén (ren²)
(Zhuyin): ㄖㄣˊ
Cantonese (Jyutping): jan⁴
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): yìn
(Meixian, Guangdong): yin²
Min Dong (BUC): ìng
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): lîn / jîn
(Teochew, Peng'im): ring⁵
Wu (Wiktionary): zen (T3); nyin (T3)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: rén
  - Zhuyin: ㄖㄣˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: rén
  - Wade–Giles: jên²
  - Yale: rén
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ren
  - Palladius: жэнь (žɛnʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʐən³⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: jan⁴
  - Yale: yàhn
  - Cantonese Pinyin: jan⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: yen⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɐn²¹/
Hakka
- (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yìn
  - Hakka Romanization System: inˇ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yin²
  - Sinological IPA: /in¹¹/
- (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yìn
  - Hakka Romanization System: (r)inˇ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yin²
  - Sinological IPA: /(j)in¹¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: yin²
  - Sinological IPA: /in¹¹/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ìng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /iŋ⁵³/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lîn
  - Tâi-lô: lîn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: liin
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /lin²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Kaohsiung, Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: jîn
  - Tâi-lô: jîn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: jiin
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /d͡ʑin¹³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /ʑin²³/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: ring⁵
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: jîng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /d͡ziŋ⁵⁵/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: zen (T3); nyin (T3)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /z̥əɲ²³/, /n̠ʲɪɲ²³/

Note:

3zen - literary;
3nyin - vernacular.

Middle Chinese: /ȵiɪn/

Rime
Character	仁
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	日 (38)
Final (韻)	眞 (43)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	如鄰切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ȵiɪn/
Pan Wuyun	/ȵin/
Shao Rongfen	/ȵʑjen/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ȵin/
Li Rong	/ȵiĕn/
Wang Li	/ȵʑĭĕn/
Bernard Karlgren	/ȵʑi̯ĕn/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	rén
Expected Cantonese Reflex	jan⁴

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*niŋ/
(Zhengzhang): /*njin/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	仁
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	rén
Middle Chinese	‹ nyin ›
Old Chinese	/*niŋ/
English	kind
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	仁
Reading #	1/1
No.	10801
Phonetic component	人
Rime group	眞
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	仁
Old Chinese	/*njin/

Definitions

仁

compassionate; humane
仁慈 ― réncí ― benevolent
- 子曰：「唯仁者能好人，能惡人。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  子曰：“唯仁者能好人，能恶人。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Zǐyuē: “Wéi rénzhě néng hào rén, néng wù rén.” [Pinyin]
  The Master said, "It is only the (truly) virtuous man, who can love, or who can hate, others."
- 無傷也，是乃仁術也，見牛未見羊也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  无伤也，是乃仁术也，见牛未见羊也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE
  Wúshāng yě, shì nǎi rénshù yě, jiàn niú wèi jiàn yáng yě. [Pinyin]
  'There is no harm in their saying so,' said Mencius. 'Your conduct was an artifice of benevolence. You saw the ox, and had not seen the sheep.
humaneness; benevolence; kindness
殺身成仁／杀身成仁 ― shāshēnchéngrén ― to die for a righteous cause
- 樊遲問仁。子曰：「愛人。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  樊迟问仁。子曰：“爱人。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
  Fán Chí wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Àirén.” [Pinyin]
  Fan Chi asked about benevolence. The Master said, "It is to love all men."
(literary) person of virtue
- 弟子入則孝，出則弟，謹而信，汎愛眾，而親仁。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  弟子入则孝，出则弟，谨而信，泛爱众，而亲仁。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Dìzǐ rù zé xiào, chū zé tì, jǐn ér xìn, fàn ài zhòng, ér qīn rén. [Pinyin]
  A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good.
kernel
白芝麻仁 ― bái zhīmá rén ― white sesame seeds

Compounds

Derived terms from 仁

不仁 (bùrén)
仁丹 (réndān)
仁人 (rénrén)
仁人君子 (rénrénjūnzǐ)
仁人志士 (rénrénzhìshì)
仁兄 (rénxiōng)
仁厚 (rénhòu)
仁君
仁和坪 (Rénhépíng)
仁孝
仁宇
仁尊
仁弟
仁德 (réndé)
仁心 (rénxīn)
仁恕
仁惠
仁慈 (réncí)
仁政 (rénzhèng)
仁昭法外
仁武 (Rénwǔ)
仁波切 (rénbōqiè)
仁洽
仁王
仁瑞
仁福 (Rénfú)
仁者 (rénzhě)
仁言利博
依仁
冠道履仁
吉仁 (Jírén)
同仁 (tóngrén)
大仁 (dàrén)
宅心仁厚
宅心仁慈
宋襄之仁 (sòngxiāngzhīrén)
巴仁 (Bārén)
布德施仁
志士仁人 (zhìshìrénrén)
成仁 (chéngrén)
敦仁
施仁布德
施仁布恩

智仁勇
杏仁 (xìngrén)
杏仁槽
杏仁油 (xìngrényóu)
杏仁粉
杏仁茶 (xìngrénchá)
杏仁豆腐 (xìngrén dòufu)
松仁 (sōngrén)
果仁 (guǒrén)
核仁 (hérén)
桃仁 (táorén)
求仁得仁 (qiúréndérén)
法外施仁
瓜仁 (guārén)
瓜子仁
瞳仁 (tóngrén)
知水仁山
砂仁 (shārén)
美仁 (Měirén)
能仁 (Néngrén)
至仁
苡仁
薏仁 (yìrén)
薏苡仁 (yìyǐrén)
麻仁
麻木不仁 (mámùbùrén)
殷有三仁
一視同仁／一视同仁 (yīshìtóngrén)
不仁不義／不仁不义
亞麻仁油／亚麻仁油
仁壽／仁寿
仁心仁術／仁心仁术 (rénxīnrénshù)
仁愛／仁爱 (rén'ài)
仁愛之家／仁爱之家
仁智互見／仁智互见
仁民愛物／仁民爱物
仁澤／仁泽
仁義／仁义 (rényì)
仁義之師／仁义之师
仁義道德／仁义道德 (rényì dàodé)
仁者樂山／仁者乐山
仁聲／仁声

仁至義盡／仁至义尽 (rénzhìyìjìn)
仁術／仁术 (rénshù)
仁風／仁风
假仁假義／假仁假义
剛愎不仁／刚愎不仁
壯烈成仁／壮烈成仁
大仁大義／大仁大义
奉揚仁風／奉扬仁风
婦人之仁／妇人之仁 (fùrénzhīrén)
安仁鬢秋／安仁鬓秋
寬仁大度／宽仁大度
尸鳩之仁／尸鸠之仁
居仁由義／居仁由义
履仁蹈義／履仁蹈义
成仁取義／成仁取义
施仁布澤／施仁布泽
欖仁樹／榄仁树
止戈興仁／止戈兴仁
歸仁／归仁 (Guīrén, “Gueiren”)
殘暴不仁／残暴不仁 (cánbàobùrén)
殺身成仁／杀身成仁 (shāshēnchéngrén)
為仁不富／为仁不富
為富不仁／为富不仁 (wéifùbùrén)
烏圖美仁／乌图美仁 (Wūtúměirén)
煦仁孑義／煦仁孑义
當仁不讓／当仁不让 (dāngrénbùràng)
發政施仁／发政施仁
種仁／种仁
積德累仁／积德累仁
純仁／纯仁
絕仁棄義／绝仁弃义
義粟仁漿／义粟仁浆
聖手仁心／圣手仁心
興仁／兴仁 (Xīngrén)
蝦仁／虾仁 (xiārén)
見仁見智／见仁见智 (jiànrénjiànzhì)
見仁見知／见仁见知
見智見仁／见智见仁
觀過知仁／观过知仁
達仁／达仁 (Dárén)
里仁為美／里仁为美
麻痺不仁／麻痹不仁

References

“仁”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

仁

(grade 6 “Kyōiku” kanji)

benevolence

Readings

Go-on: に (ni, Jōyō ^†); にん (nin)
Kan-on: じん (jin, Jōyō)
Nanori: きみ (kimi); く (ku); さと (sato); しのぶ (shinobu); じ (ji); と (to); のり (nori); ひと (hito); ひとし (hitoshi); ひろ (hiro); ひろし (hiroshi); まこと (makoto); まさ (masa); まさし (masashi); やす (yasu); よし (yoshi)

Compounds

仁(に)王(おう) (niō): the two guardian Deva kings
仁(じん)義(ぎ) (jingi): humanity and justice
仁(じん)愛(あい) (jin'ai): benevolence, charity
仁(じん)術(じゅつ) (jinjutsu): benevolence act
仁(じん)義(ぎ)礼(れい)智(ち)信(しん) (jingireichishin): the 5 Confucian virtues
仁(じん)徳(とく) (jintoku): benevolence, goodness

Proper noun

仁(ひとし) or 仁(じん) or 仁(まさし) • (Hitoshi or Jin or Masashi)

a male given name

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 仁 (MC ȵiɪn).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	ᅀᅵᆫ (Yale: zìn)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
Text	*Gloss (hun)*	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527	클〮 (Yale: khúl)	ᅀᅵᆫ (Yale: zìn)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [in]
Phonetic hangul: [인]

Hanja

Wikisource仁 (eumhun 어질 인 (eojil in))

Hanja form^? of 인 (“benevolence”).

Compounds

인덕 (仁德, indeok)
인자 (仁慈, inja)
인형 (仁兄, inhyeong)
인의 (仁義, inui)
인술 (仁術, insul)
인애 (仁愛, inae)
능인 (能仁, neung'in)
인천 (仁川, Incheon)
살신성인 (殺身成仁, salsinseong'in)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Vietnamese

Han character

仁: Hán Nôm readings: nhân, nhơn

benevolence

References

Nom Foundation