How to Say “You” in Japanese

Ways to say it

In Japanese, it is much more natural and polite to address someone by their name followed by the honorific -san rather than using a pronoun. In close relationships, it is common to drop explicit pronouns and address someone solely by their name. For emphasizing epithets, the forms そこの or この can be used.

Which one should you use?

While 君 is often translated as "you", it is specifically used by someone of higher or equal status toward someone of lower status, such as a boss to a subordinate or a man to a woman in a romantic context. In contrast, お前 is a very blunt and rough way to say "you" used between very close male friends or by someone asserting dominance. Despite its formal-looking kanji, 貴様 is used as a highly insulting way to say "you" in confrontations or in aggressive fictional dialogue.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

貴方 is a polite form, but そちら is a polite way to say "you" when referring to a person's side or direction, often used in business to refer to the other party's company or group. For familiar settings, 君 and そっち are appropriate. あんた is an informal and dialectal form, while お前 is commonly used among friends or peers in casual situations but can also be considered impolite or offensive. おんどれ is a vulgar and dialectal term.

Is it said differently in some regions?

The following forms are noted as dialectal: 自分, あんた, お前 and おんどれ.

Related words

The individual or group spoken/written to (det): そこの.

Used before epithets for emphasis (det): そこの, この.

How does it change in a sentence?

In many natural Japanese sentences, the word for "you" is omitted entirely if the context makes it clear who is being addressed.

How do you pronounce it?

anata

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often over-use 貴方 because it is taught as the standard translation for "you", but using it toward a superior or a stranger can actually sound condescending or overly intimate.

When do people say it?

One of the most respectful ways to address someone is by using their name followed by the honorific "san". Another way to address someone formally in Japanese is by using their title or professional designation.