わたし？ぼく？おれ？ – Master the Japanese first-person pronoun
Table of Contents
1. Japanese first-person pronoun
2. Common first-person pronouns
3. First-person pronouns in manga
4. Summary
5. Similar Articles
6. Comments
Q: I don’t know which Japanese first-person pronoun to use
A: Japanese has many first-person pronouns.
And first-person pronouns change not only depending on gender, but also on the situation, the relationship with the other person, and the level of politeness in speech.
The first thing to remember is that if you are not sure which one to use, “わたし” is the safest choice.
“わたし” can be used by both men and women, and it is the most common first-person pronoun used in both everyday conversation and business situations.
Now, let’s take a look at what first-person pronouns are commonly used in Japanese.
Common first-person pronouns
First, let’s check what first-person pronouns are commonly used in Japanese.
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| わたくし | わたくし |
| わたし | わたし |
| 自分 | あたし |
| ぼく | |
| おれ |
In actual use, there are individual differences in how these are used. Here, we are introducing general tendencies.
[わたくし／わたし]
“わたくし” and “わたし” are first-person pronouns used by both men and women.
“わたし” is the most common one, and women often use it in both everyday conversation and business situations. Men also often use it in business settings, and depending on the situation, they may use it in everyday conversation as well.
“わたくし” sounds even more polite than “わたし.”
For that reason, it is used in formal situations such as speeches, customer service, job hunting, and formal self-introductions.
Be careful, because it is not used very often in everyday conversation.
[Example]
わたし／わたくしは、山本と申します。
I am Yamamoto.
⇒ Both men and women use it for self-introductions in business settings.
[自分]
“自分” is a first-person pronoun mainly used by men.
It may be used in sports settings, situations with hierarchical relationships, and workplaces.
However, “自分” is a somewhat unique way of speaking, and the impression it gives can vary depending on the listener.
Some people feel it sounds rather formal, while others feel it sounds a little casual.
For that reason, for learners looking for a safe first-person pronoun to use in business situations, “わたし / わたくし” is still the safer choice.
Also, “自分” is not often used in self-introductions.
It is more often used when talking about one’s own opinion or actions.
[Example]
社長「次の会議のリーダー、誰かしてくれないか。」
男性社員「自分にやらせてください。」
President: Can someone take the lead for the next meeting?
Male employee: Please let me do it.
[わたし VS あたし]
“あたし” is a much more casual way of saying “わたし.”
It is mainly used by women in casual conversation.
Also, the kanji “私” is normally read as “わたし,” not “あたし.”
For that reason, it is safer for learners to first become comfortable using “わたし.”
Some people do use “あたし” in everyday conversation, but it is not used in formal situations.
[Example]
(一般的) わたし、来週旅行に行くんだ。
(カジュアル) あたし、来週旅行に行くんだ。
(General) I’m going on a trip next week.
(Casual) I’m going on a trip next week.
[ぼくVSおれ]
“ぼく” and “おれ” are both first-person pronouns mainly used by men.
If women use them, they will sound unnatural in many cases.
“ぼく” has a softer, slightly more polite, and calmer impression than “おれ.”
On the other hand, “おれ” is more casual and gives a more informal impression.
However, this is not simply a matter of personality. They are also used differently depending on age, the relationship with the other person, and the situation.
For example, even the same man may use “わたし” at work, but “ぼく” or “おれ” with friends.
Also, boys often use “ぼく” when they are young, and some begin using “おれ” as they grow older.
[Examples]
(大人) ぼくは毎日勉強しています。
(Adult) I study every day.
(大人) おれは毎日、酒を飲むんだ。
(Adult) I drink alcohol every day.
(子ども) ぼくは5歳です。
(Child) I am 5 years old.
[Which one should learners use?]
When Japanese learners choose a first-person pronoun, it is safest to think about it like this first:
• If you are not sure, use わたし
• In very formal situations, use わたくし
• If you are male and the situation is casual, ぼく can also sound natural
• おれ is a very casual expression, so be careful about when you use it
• あたし is a casual and feminine expression, so there is no need to force yourself to use it at first
In particular, the first one learners should master is わたし.
“わたし” is the first-person pronoun that is least likely to cause mistakes.
First-person pronouns in manga
In fact, there are also some first-person pronouns that are often used in the world of manga and anime.
Common examples include “おら,” “おいら,” “せっしゃ,” “わい,” and “おれさま.”
These expressions are used to strongly show a character’s personality.
If you use them in real-life conversation, they may sound unnatural or make you sound like you are joking around.
For that reason, it is enough to understand their meanings when you see them in manga or anime, and it is better to avoid using them yourself.
Summary
- Japanese first-person pronouns change not only depending on gender, but also on the situation, the relationship with the other person, and the level of politeness.
- If you are not sure, it is safest for both men and women to use “わたし.”
- “わたくし” is used in very formal situations.
- “あたし” is a casual expression used by women.
- “ぼく” and “おれ” are mainly used by men, and “おれ” is the more casual of the two.
- Many manga first-person pronouns are better not used in real life, so be careful.
I sometimes hear people refer to themselves as “うち.” What does it mean?
When someone uses “うち” to refer to themselves, it’s a casual first-person pronoun. It’s especially common among young women in western Japan, especially in the Kansai area. Besides this use, “うち” can also mean one’s home, one’s family, or one’s in-group depending on the context.