Basic Course
Free
- 6 lessons
- 0 quizzes
- 96 week duration
Lesson 1: Saying “I” and “We” in Japanese
In this lesson, I will teach you how to say “I” and “We” in Japanese.
If you are male, you can use 私（わたくし）, 私（わたし）, 僕（ぼく）, or 俺（おれ） to say “I”.
| Explanation |
| 私（わたくし） The most formal option. It is used in very formal situations such as interviews. (Both males and females can use it.) However, some people may habitually use this form in everyday situations as well, although this usage is relatively uncommon. |
|
私（わたし） Less formal than 私（わたくし）, but still polite enough for situations like interviews. (Both males and females can use it) |
|
僕（ぼく） Used only by males. In daily life, many Japanese men use 僕（ぼく） instead of 私（わたし）. However, it is considered less polite when speaking to superiors, so it is better to use 私（わたし） in such situations, and 僕（ぼく） or 俺（おれ） with friends. |
|
俺（おれ） Used only by males. This is the least formal option and is typically used only with friends. |
If you are female, you can use 私（わたくし）, 私（わたし）, or あたし to say “I”.
| Explanation |
| 私（わたくし） The most formal option. It is used in very formal situations such as interviews. (Both males and females can use it.) However, some people may habitually use this form in everyday situations as well, although this usage is relatively uncommon. |
|
私（わたし） Less formal than 私（わたくし）, but still polite enough for situations like interviews. (Both males and females can use it) |
|
あたし Used only by females. This is the least formal option and is typically used only with friends. |
As for “we”, you can use 私たち（わたしたち）.
Example Sentences:
| 私は学生です。 I’m a student. Watashi wa gakusei desu. 僕は先生ではない。 I’m not a teacher. Boku wa sensei dewa nai. 俺は天才だ。 I’m a genius. Ore wa tensai da. 私たちは観光客です。 We are visitors. Watashitachi wa kankoukyaku desu. |
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