私たちは
watashitachi wa
The Japanese phrase for "we are" is 私たちは (watashitachi wa).
私たちは is a phrase used to identify a group of people that includes the speaker.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, the phrase 私たちは is often omitted in Japanese if the context makes it clear that the speaker is referring to themselves and others.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
当社は is a formal way to refer to "we" specifically when talking about a company or organization. 我々は is a very formal, often used in speeches or written documents, to mean "we". 僕たちは is a more casual or boyish way to say "we" compared to the standard 私たちは, and is an informal pronoun for "we" commonly used by younger males or close friends. 俺たちは is an informal pronoun primarily used by males among friends.
How do you pronounce it?
watashitachi wa
Did you know?
- The pronoun 我々は can sound overly aggressive or grandiose in casual conversation, as it is often associated with historical leaders or military commanders in films.
- In Japanese, the word for 'we' is often built by adding the suffix たち (tachi) to a personal pronoun. While English uses 'we' as a single unit, Japanese speakers frequently combine 'I' with this pluralizing marker to create 'we'.
- The particle は in 私たちは marks the topic, meaning the phrase literally introduces 'as for us' rather than acting as a strict subject.
Examples in context
- 私たちは男です。We are men.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 私たちは.Tatoeba #166725 by bunbuku, translation #388869 by CK
- 私たちは幸福です。We are happy.Tatoeba #165821 by bunbuku, translation #438940 by CK
- 私たちは兄弟です。We are brother and sister.Tatoeba #165892 by small_snow, translation #248611 by CK
- 私たちは学生です。We are students.
- 当社は新製品を提供しています。We are offering a new product.
- 俺たちはいつも一緒だ。We are always together.
- 72 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their club membership.
- 大翔 Hiroto私たちは同じクラブです。Watashitachi wa onaji kurabu desu.We are in the same club.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、そうですね。Hai, sō desu ne.Yes, that's true.
- 大翔 Hiroto大翔さんも参加しますか？Hiroto-san mo sanka shimasu ka?Will you participate too, Hiroto?
- 陽葵 Himariもちろんです。Mochiron desu.Of course.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
