How to use first-person pronouns in Japanese

“I like you” or “我喜欢你” (Chinese).
This is the phrase used in English or Chinese when saying “I like you.”
However, when translating them into Japanese, there are many ways to say “I,” such as “Watashi wa anata ga suki desu,” “Ore wa kimi ga suki desu,” or “Uchi wa anata ga suki desu.”
These “I” or “我” (which means “I” in Chinese) are called first-person pronouns. First-person pronouns are used to describe the speaker or writer.
Japanese first-person pronouns have a variety of options besides “watashi.”

Firstly, I’ll show you some first-person pronouns that are frequently used in the Japanese language.

Watashi is the most commonly used. It can be used by anyone, regardless of gender or social status, and is appropriate in any situation.

The same kanji 私 can be pronounced as watakushi in more formal situations. It is used during interviews, meetings, speeches, or when speaking to someone of higher status. Like watashi, it can also be used by anyone regardless of gender or social status.

Ore is also used by men. It is used when speaking to someone close or younger, and it gives a somewhat masculine and aggressive impression. Therefore, it is not ideal for formal situations.

Both boku and ore are used by men but have completely different connotations. In movie titles, especially those related to romance or featuring young characters, boku is commonly used as a first-person pronoun. Examples include:
「Boku ga aishita subete no kimie.」 (“To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before”)
「Boku wa kimi ni koi wo suru.」 (“I Will Fall in Love with You”)
「Boku no hiro akademia」 (“My Hero Academia”)
On the other hand, when expressing strength or coolness in movies like action films or school-themed youth movies, ore is used. Examples include:
「Kyou kara ore wa」 (“From Today, I’m a Badass”)
「Oretachi ni ashita wa nai」 (“We Have No Tomorrow”)
「Tomerareruka oretachi wo」 (“Can You Stop Us?”)

I get asked by Japanese learners why there are so many ways to say “watashi,” or some people find it interesting because of that. In many cases, when we speak Japanese, we choose the appropriate first-person pronoun depending on factors such as gender, who we are talking to, or the situation. Most women use “watashi” or “watakushi,” while men use “boku” and “ore,” among others. Some people use all of “watashi,” “boku, “ and “ore,” depending on the context. For example, at work, people often use “watashi”; when speaking with clients, they might use “watakushi”; and when talking to close friends or family, they naturally switch to “ore” or “boku,” depending on the situation.
When listening to learners speak, some switch from “boku” or “watashi” during class to “ore” during breaks. Conversely, some learners find it too troublesome to change their pronouns each time and only use the safest option, “watashi.”
I haven’t seen those people in a while, but I used to be surprised when they would say things like “Ore wa 〇〇 desu” to mean “My name is 〇〇,” even though I was meeting them for the first time. I assumed they were influenced by anime or manga.
Additionally, there was a girl who goes to a Japanese language school and uses “ore” or “boku” simply because her friends do. The way you use “watashi” can change the impression you make. When talking to someone you have just met or are not yet close to, I would use “watashi.”

In Japanese, there are various ways to say “watashi.” Here are some more examples of how “watashi” is used in anime and movies.

「Uchi, kyou hayaku kaeru.」:“I will go home early today.”
It’s mainly used by girls or younger women from the Kansai area or western part of Japan when they are speaking to someone close to them.

「Tomodachi ga mukou de atashi wo yondeiru.」:“My friends are calling me over there.”
It’s a casual way of saying “watashi” where “wa” is replaced by “a.” It’s now more commonly used by women.

「Washi wa kotoshi 89 sai ni natta.」:”I turned 89 years old this year.”
They are mainly used by older men when speaking to their family or someone close, and are a somewhat old-fashioned way to say “watashi.”

「Ora ni genki wo wakete kure.」:“Give me some of your energy.” (From “Dragon Ball”)
It is used in the same way as “ore.” This usage became well-known because characters like Goku from “Dragon Ball” and Shin-chan from “Crayon
Shin-chan” use it. However, in real life, you’ll rarely hear it.

「Sessha wa tsune ni honki de gozaruyo.」:“I am always serious.”
“sessha” and “soregashi” are terms used in samurai language. They are often heard in period dramas or older anime. Many people may have encountered them in movies like “Rurouni Kenshin” and “Lupin the Third.”

When saying “watashi” in Japanese, there are unique ways to express it. Here are two examples:

「Kono keki “Yumi” ga tukuttan dayo. 」:“‘Yumi’ made this cake.”
“Yumi” is a girl’s name. Some women use their name as a first-person pronoun, mainly when talking to their family or close friends.

「Ashita wa papa to isshoni asobini ikoune.」:“Let’s go out and have fun with Papa tomorrow.”
「Sono shukudai, oneechan ga oshiete ageruyo.」:“Oneechan will help you with that homework.”
Using family terms as a substitute for “watashi” is common, especially when speaking to family members or those close to them.

This is another question that often comes up.
“We” is expressed as “watashi-tachi” or “watashi-ra” in Japanese. By adding “tachi” or “ra” to “watashi,” it becomes “we.” “watashi-tachi” is more formal, while “watashi-ra” has a more casual tone.
In addition, “watakushi-domo” is even more formal than “watashi-tachi” and is used in business and other formal contexts.

How did you like the topic about first-person pronouns? Some people might think, “It’s hurting my head, too confusing.” Don’t worry! Although there are many ways to say “I,” you only need to remember the first four pronouns we introduced here for everyday conversation. If you’re interested in how “watashi” is used in TV shows, news, or movies, feel free to ask your teachers—they’ll be happy to discuss the variety of “watashi” with you. Additionally, Japanese has a unique culture where we often avoid using first-person pronouns in sentences. In our classes, we also cover when to use “watashi” in emails and conversations to help you sound natural. Let’s continue learning Japanese together! We look forward to welcoming you here!