List of personal pronouns in Japanese

[Maciamo]

Contrarily to European languages, Japanese has many different pronouns for each person (I, you, he/she, we...). "I" and "you" have an especially wide range of translation with various nuances, politeness level and gender. Learning is particularily useful to read mangas. I know the following ones (I am sure there are more, among old fashioned ones) :

"I" and "We"

Watakushi 私 : Most polite and formal version
Watashi　私 : most common. Used more by women than men.
Atashi　あたし : Mostly used by young females. Sounds cute.
Atai 私 : Slang version of "Atashi"
Washi　わし : Mostly used by older men to younger or lower rank people.
Boku　僕 : Common for younger men (sometimes women). Sounds more refine than "ore".
Ore　俺 : Used by virile or older men. Not as polite as "watashi". (also おら and おいら in dialects)
Onore　己 : Used by men. Sounds arrogant and impolite. Also means "self" or "you".
Sessha　拙者 : Used by men (formerly samurai). Humble and polite.
Ware　我 : Quite formal and polite, but old-fashioned (except plural "wareware", used in a humble way to talk about one's company).
Wa(ga)　我（が）: Literary for "watashi". Still used in the meaning of "my" or "our" (eg : わが国 = my/our country).
Kochitomo こちとも : Slang for "we" or "ourselves", sometimes also "I" and "myself".
Wate わて : Kansai dialect for "Watashi".
Chin 朕 : Used by emperors or kings.
Daikou 乃公 : Literary. Used by men when speaking in an haughty way.
Soregasi 某 : Ancient form of "Watakushi".
Warawa 妾 : Ancient form of "Watakushi".

"You"

Anata　貴方/貴女 : Most usual and polite form.
Anta あんた : Informal version of "anata".
Kimi 君 : Used by men to talk to younger women or children, or to intimate people.
Omae お前 : Used by older or less refined people. Less polite than "anata" and sometimes almost rude.
Temee 手前 : A bit rude and aggressive.
Kisama　貴様 : Usually rude and including bad feelings.
Onore 己 : Used in a disdainful way.
Onushi (onoshi)　御主 : Polite and humble. Used by samurai to talk to people of equal or lower rank. Literally means "master".
Nanji (namuchi, nare) 汝 : Literary. Used with intimate people or lower rank people.
Onmi 御身 : Literary honorific form meaning "your body".
Sochi　そち, Sokotomo　そのとも, Sonohou　その方, Sonota　そのた, Konota　このた : dated variant of "Anata", all meaning something like "hey there !"

"He/she"

Kare/kanojo　彼/彼女 : Most usual and neutral form
Koitsu, soitsu, aitsu こいつ、そいつ、あいつ : means "this/that guy"

The plural can be form by adding "-ra" or "-tachi" at the end (ex : watashitachi, anatatachi, temeira, karera, aitsura...) or by doubling the word (wareware).

[PaulTB]

俺様 (おれさま)
己等/俺等 (おいら)

[akihabara]

"He/she"
Yatsu 奴 =He. rude and including bad feelings.

[Golgo_13]

"Jibun" = I. I've heard Sumo wrestlers use this. "Jibun wa Aomori-ken shusshin desu."

"Uchi" = I. Used primarily in Osaka and Kyoto by women

"Ondore" = you. Heard this used in Yakuza movies

[Elizabeth]

This is helpful for manga-reading, Maciamo. Thanks. I'm somewhat into the Edojidai Keiwaishi series at the moment where the yotaka/baishunfu woman occasionally use omae and two of the middle age men atashi not only to these ladies but even when talking among themselves. The only explanation I can see would be historical or regional accuracy.

[orochi]

Another note on "Uchi,"
This one seems to be on the rise as a popular word for "I" among young women in Kansai. Male speakers should be on attention not to use this because it sounds very effeminate.
I have heard some males use it, though, but not in reference to themselves but rather their company, co-workers or "in-group."

[fixelbrumpf]

"Jibun"

I've been told jibun is frequently used at the job when referring to yourself as an employee, so it seems to be quite formal. Besides, Ninja seem to use it too, (current) Naruto opening theme, anyone?

[PaulTB]

I've been told jibun is frequently used at the job when referring to yourself as an employee, so it seems to be quite formal. Besides, Ninja seem to use it too, (current) Naruto opening theme, anyone?

Also jibun is used in sentences referring to 'oneself' / 'yourself' - so it's not necessarily 'I'.

e.g. 自分で行けるか。 Can you go by yourself?

[Maciamo]

I didn't mention "jibun" because it seems to me that it means "myself, yourself, etc." or "my, your...".

[PaulTB]

I didn't mention "jibun" because it seems to me that it means "myself, yourself, etc." or "my, your...".

Well to be fair that counts for 自分で and 自分の but, gramatically speaking, I don't see that it covers 自分は.

Of course there are those who say Japanese has no personal pronouns ...

[Elizabeth]

Anata　貴方/貴女 : Most usual and polite form.
Anta あんた : Informal version of "anata".
Kimi 君 : Used by men to talk to younger women or children, or to intimate people.
Omae お前 : Used by older or less refined people. Less polite than "anata" and sometimes almost rude.
Temee 手前 : A bit rude and aggressive.
Kisama　貴様 : Usually rude and including bad feelings.
Onore 己 : Used in a disdainful way.
Onushi (onoshi)　御主 : Polite and humble. Used by samurai to talk to people of equal or lower rank. Literally means "master".
Nanji (namuchi, nare) 汝 : Literary. Used with intimate people or lower rank people.
Onmi 御身 : Literary honorific form meaning "your body".
Sochi　そち, Sokotomo　そのとも, Sonohou　その方, Sonota　そのた, Konota　このた : dated variant of "Anata", all meaning something like "hey there !"

There's also "お宅" for people who haven't learned or aren't familiar with the nuances of these others. Possibly similar (as insulting as) to 'Kisama' ?

Any connection to the オタク as eccentric nerd meaning I've never received a good answer on. Obsessively devoted to your passion to the point of never leaving the house perhaps...

Basically I think it's something a lot of Japanese people just don't like to talk about....

[moofs]

Hm, I always thought "Nanji" was like "thou" for the olden days.

Are there equivalents to "Thou", "Thy", "Thee", etc. in Japanese? I think there are in most languages.