What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the pronoun watashi (I), the particle mo (also/too) and the polite copula desu (am/is/are).
Which one should you use?
While 私もです is the standard polite form, you can use different pronouns to change the tone. For example, 僕も is a casual version for males and 俺も is a more casual and assertive version for males. There is also あたしも, which is a feminine way to say "I am also".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality depends on the pronoun and the ending. わたしも is a formal way to say "I am also". For a slightly more casual yet still polite masculine tone, men often use 僕もです. In very casual settings, such as with friends or family, you can drop the desu to simply say 私も.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual conversation, you can omit the desu to simply say 私も. To make the phrase sound even more natural when agreeing with a specific state or fact described by another person, you can say 私もそうです, which means "I am also so" or "That is also the case for me".
How do you pronounce it?
watashi mo desu
Did you know?
- In very formal settings, replacing 私 with 拙者 (sessha) would make you sound like a samurai from the Edo period, as this is a historical way for a man to refer to himself.
- If you use the pronoun 俺 (ore) in 俺もです, you might create a social clash because that specific pronoun is used to signal dominance or extreme familiarity, which contradicts the polite です ending.
- The particle も (mo) is so versatile that it can be used to express a sense of 'even' rather than 'also', which can change the nuance of 私も to imply 'even I (of all people)'.
Examples in context
- 彼はとても頭がいいです。わたしも頭がいいです。He is very smart. I am also smart.
- 映画が好きですか？僕も好きです。Do you like movies? I also like them.
- 一緒に昼ごはんを食べませんか？俺も行きたいです。Shall we have lunch together? I also want to go.
- 私もです。楽しみです。Watashi mo desu. Tanoshimi desu.I am also. I'm looking forward to it.
Example conversation
Two coworkers are talking about their busy schedules.
- 蓮 Ren今日はとても忙しいです。Kyou wa totemo isogashii desu.I am very busy today.
- 結衣 Yui私もです。Watashi mo desu.I am also.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さんも大変ですね。Yui-san mo taihen desu ne.It is hard for you too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、そうです。Hai, sou desu.Yes, that's right.
