一人です
hitori desu
In Japanese, "I am alone" is said as 一人です (hitori desu).
The phrase is used to state that a person is by themselves and has no other people with them. You can also use the form 一人で to mean "alone" or "by oneself" when describing an action, such as performing a task or eating alone.
Which one should you use?
While both forms can translate to "I am alone," using the kanji 独り instead of 一人 emphasizes a state of being solitary or lonely rather than just the count of one person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The polite way to say this is 一人です. For more formal situations, you can use 独りです. If you are speaking casually with friends or family, you can use the informal 一人だよ or the plain form 一人だ.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you were alone in the past, change the polite copula desu to the past tense deshita, resulting in 一人でした.
How do you pronounce it?
hitori desu
Did you know?
- The concept of ohitorisama describes the growing trend of people proudly enjoying activities like dining or traveling alone, turning 'being alone' into a positive lifestyle choice.
- The word 一人 is a special reading where the number 'one' 一 and 'person' 人 combine to form hitori instead of the standard ichi-nin.
- In Japanese restaurants, you can use 一人です to tell the host you are dining alone, often accompanied by holding up a single finger to visually confirm the number.
Examples in context
- 一人ですが、大丈夫です。I am alone, but I'm fine.
- 最近、孤独を感じます。Lately, I have been feeling lonely.
- 全員で遊びに行くの？じゃあ、私は一人だよ。Is everyone going out together? Well then, I am alone.
- 最近、孤独感じるな。Lately, I've been feeling lonely.
- 俺は一人でいることに慣れてるんだ。I am used to being alone, you know.
- 今は一人です。Ima wa hitori desu.I am alone right now.
Example conversation
Yuta and Yui are talking on the phone.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くん、誰と一緒にいるの？Youta-kun, dare to issho ni iru no?Youta, who are you with?
- 陽太 Yota一人です。Hitori desu.I am alone.
- 結衣 Yui寂しくないですか？Sabishiku nai desu ka?Aren't you lonely?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、大丈夫です。Iie, daijoubu desu.No, I am fine.
