What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into 私 (watashi) meaning "I", 医者 (isha) meaning "doctor" and です (desu) which functions as the copula meaning "is/am/are".
Which one should you use?
While the default form is a polite way to state your profession, other variations exist. Ore wa isha da and Boku wa isha da are informal versions, while Watashi wa isha nanda is another informal way to say "I'm a doctor".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 私は医者です is the polite, standard way to state your profession. In contrast, Ore wa isha da is highly informal and masculine, using the pronoun ore and the particle da instead of desu. Boku wa isha da is also an informal option.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, nouns such as 医者 do not change form to indicate whether they are singular or plural. 医者 can mean "a doctor" or "doctors".
How do you pronounce it?
watashi wa isha desu
Did you know?
- While 医者 (isha) is the general word for doctor, patients and staff in a hospital will almost always address a physician as 先生 (sensei), which means 'teacher'. Calling a doctor 医者 to their face can sound blunt or impolite.
- In real-life conversations, Japanese speakers often omit the 私 (I) entirely and simply say 医者です (isha desu). Including the pronoun can sometimes sound unnaturally emphatic or redundant because the context already implies who is speaking.
- There is a distinct difference between calling someone an 医者 (isha) and an 医師 (ishi). While 医者 is the common word for the person, 医師 is the legal and professional term used in licenses and medical certifications.
Examples in context
- 私は医者です。I am a doctor.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 私は医者です.Tatoeba #158511 by tommy_san, translation #436293 by lukaszpp
Example conversation
A woman asks a man about his occupation during a social gathering.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんは、お仕事は何ですか？Hiroto-san wa, oshigoto wa nan desu ka?Hiroto, what is your job?
- 大翔 Hiroto私は医者です。Watashi wa isha desu.I am a doctor.
- 美咲 Misakiすごいですね！Sugoi desu ne!That is amazing!
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I am a doctor” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
