〜人です~jin desu
Jin desu (〜人です) means “State someone’s nationality”.
I am Chinese.
Add 「人」, read jin, to a country name in 「〜人です」 to state someone’s nationality.
In the course
How it works
Look at the picture: add 「人」 to a country name to make a word for a person of that nationality.
In nationality words, 「人」 is read 「じん」. 「中国人」 is read 「ちゅうごくじん」.
「中国」 names a country; 「中国人」 refers to a person. Remember 「人」 when saying someone’s nationality.
When you first meet someone, use the sentence pattern you’ve learned to introduce your nationality: 私は中国人です。
For a different nationality, just change the country name. An American can say: 私はアメリカ人です。
You can introduce someone else’s nationality too. Replace 「私」 with the person you’re talking about: 先生は日本人です。
Example sentences
- 私watashiはwa中国人chuugokujinです。desu
I am Chinese.
- 先生senseiはwa日本人nihonjinです。desu
The teacher is Japanese.
In a conversation
- Aあなたは中国人ですか。
A: Are you Chinese?
- Bはい、中国人です。スミスさんは？
B: Yes, I'm Chinese. How about you, Smith?
- A
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I am Chinese.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
シルバはブラジル 。
Silva is Brazilian.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜人ですState someone’s nationality