Which one should you use?
While 私 is neutral and polite, there are other options depending on the situation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness changes which pronoun you choose. 私 is the polite and neutral standard. For highly formal occasions such as business meetings, speeches or when addressing dignitaries, use the more polite version わたくし (watakushi). In informal situations, 俺 (ore) is a casual pronoun used more by males, while あたし (atashi) and うち (uchi) are informal and more feminine ways of saying "me".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of 私 changes based on its role in a sentence using particles. To use "me" as the direct object of a verb, add the particle を to get 私を (watashi o). To indicate "me" as the recipient of an action or the target of a phrase, use the particle に to get 私に (watashi ni). To use "me" as the subject of a sentence to provide emphasis, use the particle が to get 私が (watashi ga).
How do you pronounce it?
watashi
Did you know?
- Depending on the social context, a Japanese speaker might avoid using any word for 'me' entirely, as the subject is often omitted if it is clear from the context.
- The standard pronoun 私 originally meant 'private' or 'personal' rather than 'I'. It was used to describe things that were not public before it became a way to refer to oneself.
- The pronoun うち (uchi) is used by some speakers to mean 'me' and literally means 'inside' or 'house'.
Examples in context
- 私を憎むな！Don't hate me!This sentence shows how to use 私 as a direct object.Tatoeba #844585 by arihato, translation #666047 by bluepie88
- これ、私に？Is this for me?This sentence shows how to use 私 as a recipient.Tatoeba #8755069 by bunbuku, translation #4500172 by CK
- 私が怖いの？Are you afraid of me?This sentence shows how to use 私 as a subject.Tatoeba #12662808 by small_snow, translation #1886359 by CK
- 2606 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about who will go to the store.
- 蓮 Ren私が行きます。Watashi ga ikimasu.I will go.
- 美咲 Misaki本当にいいの？Hontō ni ii no?Are you sure?
- 蓮 Renはい、私に任せてください。Hai, watashi ni makasete kudasai.Yes, leave it to me.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、蓮さん。Arigatō, Ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 私, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 私, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
