Wa-pedia Home > Japanese Language > Personal pronouns
Personal pronouns in Japanese
Written by 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.
  • Uchi うち : Used mostly by women. A neutral version also refers to "us" (family, company, etc.) as opposed to "them" or "you".
  • Jibun 自分 : Neutral. Refers to the "self", so can be use for "I" or "you". "Jibun no" (自分の) means "my" or "your" and "jibun de" (自分で) means "myself" or "youself".
  • Boku 僕 : Common for younger men (sometimes women). Sounds more refine than "ore".
  • Ore 俺 (also "Ora" in dialect) : Used by virile or older men. Not as polite as "watashi".
  • Oresama 俺様 : Arrogant and rude version of "Ore"
  • Orera 俺ら (also "Oira" in dialect) : Plural of "Ore"
  • Onore 己 : Used by men. Sounds arrogant and impolite. Also means "self" or "you" (see "Jibun").
  • 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 : "Wagakuni" 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.
  • Jibun 自分 : Neutral. Refers to the "self", so can be use for "I" or "you". "Jibun no" (自分の) means "my" or "your" and "jibun de" (自分で) means "myself" or "youself".
  • 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 ! They are informal and impersonal."

"He/she/they"

  • Kare/kanojo 彼/彼女 : Most usual and neutral form of "he/she"
  • Koitsu, soitsu, aitsu こいつ、そいつ、あいつ : means "this/that guy"
  • Yatsu 奴 : rude, involve bad feelings

Just add "ra" after any of them to form the plural.

The plural can be form by adding the suffix "-ra" (for pronouns that end in -e or -u) or "-tachi" (for those that end in -i and -a). For example : watashitachi, anatatachi, temeira, karera, aitsura... One exception is "ware", which plural is made by doubling the word ("wareware").



comments powered by Disqus



Copyright © 2002-2013 Wa-pedia.com All Rights Reserved.