Introduction
When learning English, one of the first things you study is I / you / he / she / it / we / they.
At first glance, Japanese seems to have direct equivalents: watashi for “I,” anata for “you,” kare for “he,” and so on. But in reality, Japanese pronouns don’t map so neatly.
Japanese personal pronouns are highly dependent on context. Which one you use depends on your relationship with the listener, your social role, gender, age, and even the situation. On top of that, Japanese often avoids pronouns altogether—leaving the subject out is often the most natural choice.
First-Person Pronouns (I)
わたし (watashi)
The most neutral and polite. Suitable in both formal and casual contexts, for both men and women.
- わたし(私)は学生(がくせい)です。 (I am a student.)
- わたし(私)は明日(あした)、東京(とうきょう)に行(い)きます。 (I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.)
ぼく (boku)
Polite but softer, typically used by men. Common at school or work.
- ぼく(僕)はサッカーが好(す)きです。 (I like soccer.)
- ぼく(僕)は先生(せんせい)に聞(き)きました。 (I asked the teacher.)
おれ (ore)
Casual, masculine, and strong. Used with friends or peers.
- おれ(俺)は今日(きょう)、暇(ひま)だよ。 (I’m free today.)
- おれ(俺)はあの映画(えいが)を見(み)た。 (I watched that movie.)
あたし (atashi)
A feminine, casual pronoun often used among close friends.
- あたしはケーキが好(す)き。 (I like cake.)
- あたしは友(とも)だちと出(で)かけるよ。 (I’m going out with friends.)
うち (uchi)
Common in Kansai dialect, usually used by women. It carries regional identity.
- うちは大阪(おおさか)に住(す)んでる。 (I live in Osaka.)
- うちは猫(ねこ)を飼(か)ってる。 (I have a cat.)
自分 (jibun) as “I”
Literally means “myself.” Sometimes used as a humble or formal first-person pronoun, especially in sports or official settings.
- 自分(じぶん)は野球部(やきゅうぶ)です。 (I’m in the baseball club.)
- 自分(じぶん)は広島(ひろしま)出身(しゅっしん)です。 (I’m from Hiroshima.)
For first-person pronouns, see also this article.
Second-Person Pronouns (You)
あなた (anata)
The standard “you” in textbooks. In everyday conversation, however, it often sounds too direct, so Japanese people prefer to use names or titles instead.
- あなたは日本(にほん)に行(い)ったことがありますか。 (Have you been to Japan?)
- あなたはコーヒーが好(す)きですか。 (Do you like coffee?)
きみ (kimi)
Used in friendly situations. Can imply the speaker is in a slightly higher position.
- きみは元気(げんき)？ (Are you well?)
- きみの名前(なまえ)は何(なに)？ (What’s your name?)
おまえ (omae)
Casual and masculine. Common with friends or lovers, but can sound rough.
- おまえは本当(ほんとう)に面白(おもしろ)いな。 (You’re really funny.)
- おまえ、宿題(しゅくだい)終(お)わった？ (Did you finish your homework?)
あんた (anta)
Derived from anata. Can sound affectionate or rude, depending on context.
- あんた、よく来(き)たね。 (Hey, you came!)
- あんた、それは違(ちが)うよ。 (That’s not right.)
自分 (jibun) as “You”
In Kansai dialect, jibun can mean “you.” This often confuses speakers from other regions.
- 自分(じぶん)、今日(きょう)ヒマなん？ (Are you free today?)
- 自分(じぶん)はどこに行(い)くん？ (Where are you going?)
Third-Person Pronouns (He / She)
かれ (kare)
The basic way to say “he.”
- かれ(彼)は先生(せんせい)です。 (He is a teacher.)
- かれ(彼)はサッカーが上手(じょうず)です。 (He is good at soccer.)
かのじょ (kanojo)
The basic way to say “she.”
- かのじょ(彼女)は学生(がくせい)です。 (She is a student.)
- かのじょ(彼女)はとても親切(しんせつ)です。 (She is very kind.)
Casual Third-Person References
こいつ / そいつ / あいつ (koitsu / soitsu / aitsu)
Rough, casual ways to say “this guy / that guy.” Often used among close friends.
- あいつ(彼)は走(はし)るのが速(はや)い。 (That guy runs fast.)
- こいつはわたしの友(とも)だち。 (This is my friend.)
Plural Pronouns (We / They)
In Japanese, you can make plurals by adding -tachi (slightly formal) or -ra (more casual) to many pronouns. For example:
- わたしたち(私たち)は日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)しています。 (We study Japanese.)
- おれら(俺ら)は明日(あした)、海(うみ)に行(い)く。 (We’re going to the beach tomorrow.)
For third-person plurals:
- かれら(彼ら)は会社(かいしゃ)で働(はたら)いています。 (They work at a company.)
- かのじょたち(彼女たち)はピアノを習(なら)っています。 (They learn piano.)
Important note: while most pronouns can take -tachi or -ra, you cannot say soretachi. For objects, only sorera is used.
- それらは古(ふる)い本(ほん)です。 (Those are old books.)
- それらは全部(ぜんぶ)いりません。 (I don’t need all of those.)
Inanimate Pronouns (It)
それ (sore)
The standard “it.”
- それはわたしのかばんです。 (That’s my bag.)
- それは面白(おもしろ)い。 (That’s interesting.)
Avoiding Pronouns Altogether
One of the biggest features of Japanese is dropping pronouns. Sentences often sound more natural without them.
Examples:
- (I’m sleepy.) → 眠(ねむ)い。 (Sleepy.)
- (Do you understand?) → わかる？ (Understand?)
- (She is nice.) → きれいだね。 (Pretty, isn’t she?)
Another strategy is using names or titles instead of “you.”
- 先生(せんせい)、ちょっと質問(しつもん)があります。 (Teacher, I have a question.) → addressing a teacher
- 田中(たなか)さん、どう思(おも)いますか。 (Tanaka, what do you think?) → addressing a colleague or friend
Sociolinguistic Insights
- Age: Younger speakers use ore or atashi, but switch to watashi in professional life.
- Gender: Traditionally, boku/ore = male, atashi = female. Today, many choose watashi regardless of gender.
- Region: In Kansai, jibun (“I/you”) and uchi are common, marking local identity.
- Context: Formal vs. casual situations demand different pronouns—or none at all.
Advice for Learners
- Don’t assume anata = you, kare = he, kanojo = she. Context matters.
- In real conversations, pronouns are often omitted or replaced with names and titles.
- Start with watashi and kimi. Once comfortable, explore casual options like ore, anta, or uchi.
Conclusion
Japanese personal pronouns are far from simple word-for-word equivalents of English. They carry layers of meaning tied to context, relationships, and social norms.
Sometimes the most natural Japanese is to say nothing at all. Learning when—and when not—to use pronouns is key to sounding natural in Japanese.