Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 私 | watashi | [β̞a̠ta̠ɕi] (narrow) [β̞a̠ta̠kɯ̟̊ɕi] (narrow) |
|
| こちら | kochira | [ko̞t͡ɕiɾa̠] (narrow) | |
| 内 | uchi | [ɯ̟t͡ɕi] (narrow) | |
| 我 | ware | [β̞a̠ɾe̞] (narrow) [ɡa̠] (narrow) |
archaic |
| 小生 | shōsei | [ɕo̞ːse̞ː] (narrow) | |
| 愚生 | gusei | [ɡɯ̟se̞ː] (narrow) | humble |
| 朕 | chin | archaic | |
| あたい | atai | [a̠ta̠i] (narrow) | |
| 予 | yo | [jo̞] (narrow) | archaic |
| あたし | atashi | [a̠ta̠ɕi] (narrow) | feminine |
| 僕 | boku | [bo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) | familiar, masculine |
| 俺 | ore | [o̞ɾe̞] (narrow) | informal, masculine |
| わて | wate | [β̞a̠te̞] (narrow) | dialectal |
| あっし | asshi | [a̠ɕːi] (narrow) | masculine, vulgar |
| 自分 | jibun | [d͡ʑibɯ̟̃ɴ] (narrow) | Kanto, dialectal |
| わっし | wasshi | [β̞a̠ɕːi] (narrow) | dialectal, masculine |
In Japanese, it is common to omit the first-person pronoun if the context is clear. 私 is a common, neutral way to say 'I' that can be used by anyone regardless of gender or age. 私 (watashi) is the standard, polite way for both men and women to say 'I' in most social situations.
Which one should you use?
僕 is a more boyish or humble masculine form compared to the standard 私. In contrast, 俺 is a very informal, masculine way to say 'I' that can sound rough or overly assertive if used in polite company. For women, あたし is a softer, more colloquial version of 私.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
あたし and あたい are informal expressions mainly used by young females. 僕 and 俺 are informal expressions predominantly used by males in casual conversations. 愚生 is humble. 朕 and 予 are archaic. 朕 is a highly specific archaic pronoun used exclusively by emperors to refer to themselves.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several dialectal forms exist, such as わて, あたい, 自分 (Kanto) and わっし (masculine, colloquial). 自分 is sometimes used as a first-person pronoun in certain dialects or by certain groups (like athletes or military personnel) to mean 'I'. あたい is also considered dialectal.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
watashi
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, it is customary to refer to oneself using one's own name instead of 'I' in certain situations.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 僕は寝たい。I want to sleep.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to sleep using 僕.Tatoeba #81845 by wat, translation #321870 by CK
- 僕は甘党だ。I have a sweet tooth.This sentence is useful for describing a preference using 僕.Tatoeba #81970 by tommy_san, translation #256724 by CK
- 私も行った。I also went.This sentence is useful for showing agreement or addition using 私.Tatoeba #152192 by bunbuku, translation #262358 by CK
- 私は日本人です。I am Japanese.
- わたくしは喜んで参加いたします。I will be happy to participate.
- 俺はまだ学生だ。I am still a student.
- あたし、その映画好き。I like that movie.
- 6986 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are talking about their weekend plans.
- 蓮 Ren私は週末、図書館へ行きます。Watashi wa shuumatsu, toshokan e ikimasu.I am going to the library this weekend.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。私は家でゆっくりします。Ii desu ne. Watashi wa ie de yukkuri shimasu.That sounds nice. I am going to relax at home.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんも、ゆっくり休んでください。Himari-san mo, yukkuri yasunde kudasai.Himari, please get some good rest too.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます、蓮さん。Arigatou gozaimasu, Ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
