• 国民こくみん — nation’s people, citizens
• 市民しみん — citizen (of a city)
• 民族みんぞく — ethnic group
• 農民のうみん — farmer, peasant
• 民話みんわ — folktale
• 民間みんかん — private sector, civilian

The character 民 was originally a pictograph of an eye pierced with a needle — symbolizing blindness. Over time, it came to represent “the common people” — often contrasted with rulers or officials. Today, it appears in many terms related to citizenship and public life.