What does it mean word for word?
The word 彼 (kare) literally means "he".
Which one should you use?
While 彼は私の友達です is a standard way to express this, other forms exist depending on the level of politeness and the pronouns used. For instance, Ano kata wa watashi no yūjin desu is a more formal version. In informal settings, you might hear Kare wa ore no tomodachi da or Ano yatsu wa boku no tomodachi da.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal setting, you can use Ano kata wa watashi no yūjin desu. In informal settings, you can use Kare wa ore no tomodachi da or Ano yatsu wa boku no tomodachi da. Note that using ore for "I" and ending with da instead of desu makes the sentence very informal and masculine, often used among close male friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 友達 (tomodachi) does not change its form for singular or plural. Therefore, kare wa watashi no tomodachi desu can mean "He is my friend" or "He is my friends", though the latter is contextually unlikely. When forming a complete sentence, it is necessary to include the particle wa after the subject to mark kare as the topic.
How do you pronounce it?
kare wa watashi no tomodachi desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to include the particle wa after the subject. In a complete sentence, wa is necessary to mark kare as the topic.
Did you know?
- While kare is the standard word for 'he', using it to refer to a person in a social setting can sometimes feel like you are referring to a 'boyfriend' rather than just a male acquaintance.
- The word 彼 (kare) used for 'he' was originally used for 'that person' regardless of gender and only became specifically masculine in the modern era.
- Using the pronoun 彼 (kare) too frequently in a conversation can sound unnatural or like a translation from English, as Japanese speakers prefer using the person's name.
Examples in context
- 彼は私の友達です。He is my friend.This example is useful for practicing the full sentence 彼は私の友達です.Tatoeba #105678 by bunbuku, translation #298009 by CH
Example conversation
Kenta introduces a man to Himari at a cafe.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さん、紹介します。彼は私の友達です。Himari-san, shokai shimasu. Kare wa watashi no tomodachi desu.Himari, let me introduce him. He is my friend.
- 陽葵 Himari初めまして、よろしくお願いします。Hajimemashite, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Nice to meet you.
- 健太 Kenta彼はとても親切な人です。Kare wa totemo shinsetsu na hito desu.He is a very kind person.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは素敵ですね。Sore wa suteki desu ne.That is lovely.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
