Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 貴方 | anata | [kʲiho̞ː] (narrow) | polite |
| 君 | kimi | [kʲimʲi] (narrow) | familiar |
| あんた | anta | [ã̠nta̠] (narrow) | |
| 僕 | boku | [bo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) | |
| お前 | omae | [o̞ma̠e̞] (narrow) [o̞me̞ː] (narrow) |
|
| そちら | sochira | [so̞t͡ɕiɾa̠] (narrow) | polite |
| そっち | sotchi | [so̞t̚t͡ɕi] (narrow) | familiar |
| 貴様 | kisama | [kʲi̥sa̠ma̠] (narrow) | |
| 自分 | jibun | [d͡ʑibɯ̟̃ɴ] (narrow) | dialectal |
| おんどれ | ondore | dialectal, vulgar |
While 貴方 (anata) is the standard dictionary translation for the English 'you', using it with people you already know can actually sound distant or even cold. そちら (sochira) is used as a polite way to refer to 'you' or 'your side' in business or formal settings to avoid the directness of personal pronouns. 君 (kimi) is widely employed in informal situations between friends or peers to convey familiarity and closeness. お前 (omae) is considered highly informal and is sometimes used as a term of endearment among close friends. 貴様 (kisama) is a highly insulting and aggressive way to say 'you', often used in heated confrontations or anime fighting scenes.
Which one should you use?
君 (kimi) is typically used by superiors toward subordinates or between close friends, and is often perceived as more masculine or poetic than 貴方. お前 (omae) is a very casual way to say 'you' used among close male friends, but it can be perceived as rude or aggressive if used toward someone of higher status or a stranger.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
そちら and 貴方 are polite forms. 君 and そっち are familiar. あんた (anta) is informal. おんどれ (ondore) is vulgar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The following are used in specific dialects: 自分 (jibun), あんた (anta), お前 (omae) and おんどれ (ondore).
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
anata
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use 貴方 because they learned it as the direct translation of 'you'.
Did you know?
- While 貴様 (kisama) is now a harsh insult used in anime fights, it was historically a very polite term. It was originally used to address people of extremely high social rank.
- In Japanese, the most natural way to say 'you' is often to avoid using any pronoun at all. Speakers typically use the person's name and title, as using a direct word for 'you' can feel unnervingly confrontational.
- The standard 'you', 貴方 (anata), is historically composed of the characters for 'noble' and 'direction'. It literally translates to 'that noble direction'.
Examples in context
- 君が欲しい。I want you.This sentence uses 君.Tatoeba #178853 by wat, translation #17707 by CK
- 君が必要だ。I need you.Tatoeba #178881 by arnab, translation #17735 by CK
- 君が好きだ。I love you.Tatoeba #179014 by wat, translation #1434 by awael58
- 2052 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are meeting for a business lunch.
- 蓮 Ren貴方はどちらから来られたのですか？Anata wa dochira kara korareta no desu ka?Where did you come from?
- 陽葵 Himari私は東京から来ました。Watashi wa Tōkyō kara kimashita.I came from Tokyo.
- 蓮 Renそうですか。貴方の街はとても賑やかですね。Sō desu ka. Anata no machi wa totemo nigiyaka desu ne.I see. Your city is very lively, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても便利でいいところですよ。Hai, totemo benri de ii tokoro desu yo.Yes, it is a very convenient and nice place.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you” translations and entries 貴方, 君, あんた, 僕, お前, そちら, そっち, 貴様, 自分, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries あんた, 君, 貴方, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
