Basic Course
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- 96 week duration
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Pronoun Course
Mission 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. |
Journey Progress:
🎉 Mission Complete!
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📈 Level Progress:
✨ EXP +40
Current Level: Lv6 (40 / 240）
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🏆 Achievement Unlocked:
🔥 Kana Conqueror
✨ Greeting Mastery
✨ Expression Mastery
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📘 Achievement Progress:
Next Target:【Pronoun Mastery】
Complete All Missions in Pronoun District, Beginner Town: 1 / 6
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🚀 EXP needed to reach Lv7: 200 EXP
637+
12 thoughts on “Mission 1: Saying “I” and “We” in Japanese”
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Can you give me some examples of 3rd person? Like, near vs not far vs far? Especially near vs not far.
There are three people, A B and C.
The position is like, AC B
And A don’t know who is C, so he asked B, “Who is he?”この人はどなたですか。
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There are three people, A B and C.
The position is like, A BC
And A don’t know who is C, so he asked B, “Who is he?”その人はどなたですか。
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There are three people, A B and C.
The position is like, AB C
And A don’t know who is C, so he asked B, “Who is he?”あの人はどなたですか。
I decided to practice and post little dialogues in lessons that I learn, so I can practice and people can benefit from too 🙂
私たちは医者ですWe are doctors
僕たちは学生ですWe are students (Males)
俺が猫ではない, We are not cats (Males)
あたしたち歌手です, We are singers (Females)
クレエ: おはよう、ジル、お元気ですか？
ジル:元気です
クレエ: ジルさんは家の中にですか？
ジル:いいえ、ではいません
クレエ: 今は車の中にいますか？
ジル:クレエさん、何でしょう？
Conversation between Jill and Claire
Claire : Good morning Jill, how are you?
Jill : Good.
Are you in the house now?
No I am not
Are you inside the car now?
Claire San, what do you want?
What about groups of people including men and women? Do we pick the “we” pronoun based on who is speaking the sentence then? Or do we have to use one of the gender-neutral ones?
Just use 私たち.
I’m a little confused about the verbs in the example sentences.
For the ”I’m not a teacher” sentence, why does the sentence end in ではない instead of ではりません ?
For the “I’m a genius” sentence, why does the sentence end in だ instead of です ?
I don’t entirely understand the verbs in “None of our business” either, but I feel like we didn’t learn that yet so I’m not as worried.
I’m pretty sure だ is just the casual form of です, it might be used in this sentence just because 俺 is used more often with friends or closer acquaintances.
ではない=plain form
ではありません=polite form
だ=plain form
です=polite form
Since ~たち is slightly more formal than ~ら, does ~たち come off as too distant with a close friend and ~ら too familiar with a normal friend?
Also, it’s really cool that 々 exists, I didn’t realize there was a mark to repeat the previous kanji, it makes writing so much easier.
Yes!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
hi lets be friends since we’re both in the verb lessons now