- 私 watashi - the safest most common 'I' usage: *****
- 私 watakushi - more formal (same kanji)
- 私 atashi - used by women (same kanji)
- 私 atakushi- ditto (same kanji)
- 僕 boku - used by men; less formal. (it uses
the same kanji as 'servant 僕shimobe)
usage: *****
- 俺 ore - can be seen as rude, but used by men often usage: *****
- わし washi -
used by old men ojiisan - If you are
young, say this and see what your Japanese
friends say! Fun!
- あっし asshi - from edo period until now; used by
men
- てまえ temae - used by the merchant class in the
Edo period; very humble
- 拙者 sessha - used by samurai in Edo period;
humble
- おら ora - used by children and Crayon Shin-chan;
cute!
- うら ura - used by men in Fukui prefecture :)
- 我が輩 wagahai
- An older form of 'I.'
Very few gaijin know this. (HINT HINT)
- 我が waga - this actually
means 'my.' Used in speeches and formalities
- 我 ware
- Another
form of 'wa' series. It means 'I'
- うち uchi - used by women and Osaka dialect
- 某 soregashi - used by samurai in the Edo Period
(not used now)
THE MANY YOU'S
- 貴方 anata - the safest most common 'You' (Usually
written in Hiragana (no kanji)) usage: *****
- 貴様 kisama - a rude, most foul 'You' (if you
notice both あなた and
きさま have the same
first kanji. This kanji means 'nobility.' The 貴
in きさま is obviously used sarcastically :)
BE CAREFUL WITH THIS!
- 己 onore - Very rude. Used during fights.
This is an interesting word as it can actually
mean 'you' AND 'I.' The 'I' meaning is used
mainly in literature and is not rude. But be
careful with the 'you' usage! <Submitted
by Ghislain Cottat> THANKS!
- お前 omae - used as an insult during fights or
as a sign of affection by older couples. hmmm. It
isn't too rude, but has a ting to it
- なんじ nanji - you, thou (old word) - the kanji
is 汝
- あんた anta
- you (Don't say this to your elders!) Usually
said to people 'lower' than you. For example
older sister to little brother
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A Guide to Reading and Writing
Japanese - Highly recommended for your kanji
study
Japanese for Everyone - A great introductory textbook
Seven Samurai -
the movie (Why Not!)
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