Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| あなたの | anata no | polite |
| きみの | kimi no | familiar |
While あなたの is the standard polite form, it is often avoided in natural Japanese conversation if the speaker knows the listener's name. In such cases, it is more natural to use the person's name followed by the possessive particle instead of using a pronoun.
What does it mean word for word?
The possessive nature of these terms comes from the particle の, which turns the pronouns anata or kimi into the possessive 'your'.
Which one should you use?
あなたの is the polite form, whereas きみの is used in casual or intimate settings. きみの is frequently used by someone of higher status or an older person speaking to a peer or a younger person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
あなたの is the polite way to say 'your'. きみの is a familiar and versatile phrase commonly used among friends and acquaintances.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle の is used to create the possessive form of the pronouns.
How do you pronounce it?
anata no
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use あなたの in Japanese.
Did you know?
- In a traditional marriage or among older couples, a wife may address her husband as あなた, effectively using the word for 'you' as a term of endearment like 'dear' or 'honey'.
- In highly formal business settings, instead of using a pronoun, one might use そちらの (sochira no), which literally translates to 'that direction's' to mean 'your'.
- Using the word お前の (omae no) to mean 'your' can turn a simple question about ownership into a verbal confrontation or an act of dominance.
Examples in context
- あなたの名前は？What is your name?This sentence is useful for asking for a name using あなたの.Tatoeba #5061 by bunbuku, translation #70623 by frpzzd
- あなたの本です。Here is your book.This sentence is useful for identifying ownership of a book with あなたの.Tatoeba #233021 by bunbuku, translation #70392 by CK
- あなたの出番よ！It's your turn.This sentence is useful for announcing a turn with あなたの.Tatoeba #12284812 by small_snow, translation #370937 by saeb
- 741 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a cafe, Hiromi returns a lost item to Hiroto.
- 陽葵 Himariあなたの傘ですか？Anata no kasa desu ka?Is this your umbrella?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、そうです。ありがとうございます。Hai, sou desu. Arigatou gozaimasu.Yes, it is. Thank you.
- 陽葵 Himariいいえ、どういたしまして。Iie, douitashimashite.No, you're welcome.
- 大翔 Hiroto助かりました。Tasukarimashita.You really helped me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “your” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
