三人

Japanese

Etymology 1

From Old Japanese.

• The most likely derivation is from 三 (mi, “3, three”) +‎ 人 (-tari, counter for persons).

(Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

• Today, "三人" is commonly read as "さんにん", uncommonly as "みたり".

Noun

三人(みたり) • (mitari) 

• three person; three people

See also

• 一人(ひとり) (hitori, “one person”)
• 二人(ふたり) (futari, “two person”)
• 四人(よたり) (yotari, “four person”)
• 五人(いつたり) (itsutari, “five person”)
• 六人(むたり) (mutari, “six person”)
• 十人(とたり) (totari, “ten person”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
三	人
さん Grade: 1	にん Grade: 1
on'yomi

Noun

三(さん)人(にん) • (sannin) 

1. three person; three people
   • 二人(ふたり)より三人(さんにん)がいい。

     Futari yori sannin ga ī.

     Three persons are better than two persons.

Idioms

• 三人寄れば文殊の知恵