Ningen
/ɲiŋe̞ɴ/noun
A Japanese word meaning a human being or person, also used in English for a legendary Antarctic humanoid creature.
Did you know?In Japanese folklore and modern internet legend, Ningen describes an enormous, pale, often featureless humanoid reportedly glimpsed by Antarctic expedition crews, though no evidence confirms it exists.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
人間 (rénjiān)
“The human world or realm of people; literally, among humans”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
人 (rén)
“Person or human being”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
間 (jiān)
“Between, among, or a space”
6th–8th Century
Sino-Japanese
人間 (ningen)
“The human realm; a human being, especially in Buddhist usage”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
にんげん (ningen)
“A human being or person”
Modern English
English
Ningen
“A Japanese loanword and modern cryptid name associated with an alleged Antarctic humanoid”
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