What does it mean word for word?
私 (watashi) literally means "I" or "me". The particle は (wa) is a topic marker that marks the preceding word as the topic of the sentence. です (desu) is a copula meaning "is", "am" or "are".
Which one should you use?
The forms vary based on the subject used for "I" and the ending copula. 私は忍者です is the standard version. 僕は忍者だ uses 僕 (boku), a less formal way to say "I" commonly used by males and ends with the informal copula だ (da). 俺は忍者だぜ is a variation using 俺 (ore), a casual way to say "I" frequently used by males.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
私は忍者です is a polite way to state the phrase, utilizing the common term 私 (watashi) for "I" and the polite copula です (desu). For a much more informal and masculine tone, you can use 俺は忍者だ, which replaces 私 with the casual 俺 (ore) and uses the informal copula だ (da) instead of です. For even more respect, one might use de gozaimasu or the polite way to state things, moushiagemasu.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kumamoto dialect, the variation ワシは忍者でおん is observed.
How do you pronounce it?
watashi wa ninja desu
Did you know?
- In historical contexts, a real 忍者 would never say 私は忍者です because revealing their identity would defeat the purpose of being a secret agent.
- In Japanese, the same characters for 忍者 can be read as both 'ninja' and 'shinobi'.
- The word 忍者 comes from 忍 (nin), which means 'to endure' or 'to hide', and 者 (ja), meaning 'person'.
Examples in context
- 忍者ですが、特に目立つことはありませんI am a ninja, but I do not particularly stand out.
- 忍者だけど、実は苦手なものがありますI'm a ninja, but there are actually things I'm not good at.
- 俺は忍者だぜ！暗闇の中でも目が光るんだI am a ninja! Even in the darkness, my eyes shine.
- 驚かないでください、私は忍者です。Odorokanaide kudasai, watashi wa ninja desu.Please don't be surprised, I am a ninja.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about secret skills.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんは、何ができるの？Hiyori-san wa, nani ga dekiru no?Hiyori, what can you do?
- 陽葵 Himari私は忍者です。Watashi wa ninja desu.I am a ninja.
- 健太 Kenta本当？信じられない！Honto? Shinjirarenai!Really? I can't believe it!
- 陽葵 Himari本当ですよ。Honto desu yo.It is true.
