जन (jan)

noun Primarily a formal/literary noun meaning 'person' or 'people,' most alive today as a productive suffix in compound words (e.g. नागरिक + जन); also survives as a bound element in a few common collective nouns.
Sense 1 : person, people (collective)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: लोग (log), व्यक्ति (vyakti, formal), जनता (jantaa, the general public)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: You will hear जन (jan) most often tacked onto another word rather than standing by itself -- नागरिक जन (naagrik jan, 'the citizenry'), ग्रामीण जन (graamiin jan, 'village folk'), युवा जन (yuvaa jan, 'the youth'). It has the flavor of a newspaper editorial or a political speech, not kitchen-table Hindi. This same root shows up in जनता (jantaa, 'the public') and जन्म (janm, 'birth'), both very common words, so knowing जन (jan) helps you recognize a whole family of vocabulary even though it is rarely the star of a casual sentence.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to use जन (jan) as a standalone everyday word for 'person,' but in ordinary speech लोग (log) or व्यक्ति (vyakti) is what you will actually hear -- जन (jan) on its own sounds bookish or formal, like an announcement or a speech. 2) It does not take the plural ending the way लोग (log) does; it is more often used as a suffix attached to another word (see the word-level note) than said alone.
Sample Sentences:
ग्रामीण जन आज भी परंपराओं को निभाते हैं। Village folk still uphold their traditions today.
(graamiin jan aaj bhii parampraaon ko nibhaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नागरिक जन से अनुरोध है कि नियमों का पालन करें। The citizenry is requested to follow the rules.
(naagrik jan se anurodh hai ki niymon kaa paalan karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
युवा जन देश के भविष्य की दिशा तय करेंगे। The youth will decide the direction of the nation's future.
(yuvaa jan desh ke bhavishy kii dishaa tay karenge।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
संपादक ने लिखा कि आम जन की आवाज़ अनसुनी नहीं रहनी चाहिए। The editor wrote that the voice of the common people should not go unheard.
(sampaadak ne likhaa ki aam jan kii aavaaz ansunii nahiin rahnii chaahie।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि जन जागरूक होते, तो भ्रष्टाचार इतना नहीं फैलता। If the people were aware, corruption would not have spread so much.
(yadi jan jaagrook hote, to bhrashtaachaar itnaa nahiin phailtaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस योजना से श्रमिक जन को सीधा लाभ मिलेगा। The working class will directly benefit from this scheme.
(is yojnaa se shramik jan ko siidhaa laabh milegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
नेता जी, कृपया जन की समस्याओं को गंभीरता से लीजिए। Leader, please take the problems of the people seriously.
(netaa jii, kripyaa jan kii samasyaaon ko gambhiirtaa se liijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस चुनाव में जन का समर्थन किसे मिलेगा, यह देखना बाकी है। Who will win the people's support in this election remains to be seen.
(is chunaav men jan kaa samarthan kise milegaa, yah dekhnaa baakii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): जन (jan)
(sg.m.oblique): जन (jan)
(pl.m.direct): जन (jan)
(pl.m.oblique): जनों (janon)