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 |
While 私 (watashi) is a standard and polite way to say 'I' suitable for both men and women in formal situations, the subject 'I' is frequently omitted from sentences in Japanese if the context makes it clear who is speaking.
Which one should you use?
The forms of 'I' vary significantly in tone and nuance. 僕 (boku) is a masculine pronoun that is softer and more polite than 俺. 俺 (ore) is a highly informal and masculine term that can be perceived as rough, impolite or used to assert dominance. For women, あたし (atashi) serves as a more feminine and casual version of 私, often used among friends or in relaxed speech. For very formal or business-oriented contexts, こちら (kochira) is a very polite way to refer to oneself.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
こちら is very polite, often used in business or formal service contexts. 私 is the standard polite form. For an even more polite way to say 'I', one can use watakushi. In humble contexts, a male might use 小生 (shōsei) in written correspondence. For casual use, men often use 僕 or 俺, while women may use あたし. On the extreme ends of the spectrum, 我, 朕 and 予 are archaic forms, with 朕 being used exclusively by the Emperor in historical contexts. Other forms like 愚生 (gusei) are used as humble forms, and あっし (asshi) is a masculine and vulgar option.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several dialectal forms exist. In the Kanto region, 自分 (jibun) is used. Other dialectal forms include わて (wate), あたい (atai) and わっし (wasshi). In the Kansai dialect, 'watashi' is often replaced with 'washi'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for the default form 私 is watashi.
When do people say it?
Historically, 朕 (chin) was a pronoun used exclusively by the Emperor.
Did you know?
- The term 愚生 (gusei) incorporates the character for 'foolish', intentionally labeling the speaker as a fool to show extreme humility.
- The humble pronoun 小生 (shōsei) literally translates to 'small life', a way of diminishing one's own existence to show modesty in writing.
- The polite pronoun こちら (kochira) literally means 'this direction', treating the speaker as a location rather than a person.
Examples in context
- 僕は寝たい。I want to sleep.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 僕.Tatoeba #81845 by wat, translation #321870 by CK
- 僕は甘党だ。I have a sweet tooth.Tatoeba #81970 by tommy_san, translation #256724 by CK
- 私も行った。I also went.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 私.Tatoeba #152192 by bunbuku, translation #262358 by CK
- 6986 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their hobbies after class.
- 美咲 Misaki私、料理をするのが好きです。Watashi, ryouri o suru no ga suki desu.I like cooking.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうなんですか？僕はゲームが好きです。Sou nan desu ka? Boku wa geemu ga suki desu.Is that so? I like games.
- 美咲 Misaki面白いですね。Omoshiroi desu ne.That's interesting.
- 大翔 Hiroto今度、一緒に遊びませんか？Kondo, issho ni asobimasen ka?Would you like to hang out sometime?
