What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese? | Ichimon Japan 38

Posted on March 7, 2021

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On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese?

Topics Discussed

The most common first person pronouns used in Japanese
The tendency for Japanese speakers to avoid using pronouns
The lack of true pronouns in Japanese
How choosing which first person Japanese pronoun to use can be confusing even for native Japanese speakers
Whether ore is only used by tough guys in Japanese
Theories about the history and evolution of the first person Japanese pronoun ore
Who uses ore
The concept of direct index vs indirect index
Whether ore is innately masculine
What traits people associate with ore
Whether women use ore
The evolution and history of boku
What traits are associated with boku
Whether women use boku
About watashi, watakushi, and atashi
Using honorific language in Japanese as a way to scare or build a psychological wall with the listener
A traumatic experience stemming from someone’s reluctance to schoose a pronoun
And much more!

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Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

To learn more about Shoe Murakami, check out episode 45 of Japan Station.

The Fascinating Life of Stand-Up Comedian Shuhei “Shoe” Murakami | Japan Station 45

You can find Shoe Murakami on the following platforms.

Here are some of the main English-language sources used while doing the research for this episode.

Japanese Pronoun Adventure: a Japanese Language Learner’s Exploration of His Japanese Gender Pronoun
- This is the article that is about the individual who created an original kanji (that they would later discover existed in Chinese) in order to use it as the written form of their preferred first person pronoun.
An ‘I’ for an ‘I’ The semantic development of the first person pronoun in Japanese

Here are some of the main Japanese-language sources used when doing the research for this episode.

Here is the Tofugu.com article about Japanese first person pronouns that is mentioned in this episode.

JAPANESE FIRST-PERSON PRONOUNS: わたし, ぼく, おれ, and A WHOLE LOT MORE

This is the Japanese video mentioned during the episode in which someone interviews Japanese women about what pronoun they would prefer their boyfriend to use. In it the respondents describe what traits they associate with the pronouns boku and ore.

Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of Japan Station.

What is the Shinsengumi? Examining the Shogun’s Last Samurai Corps w. Romulus Hillsborough | Japan Station 60

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Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC.

Ore
- 俺 : 俺(P); 己【おれ(P); おらあ(俺)(ok); おり(俺)(ok)】 (pn) (male) (rough or arrogant) I; me
Boku
- 僕【ぼく】 (pn) (1) (male) I; me; (pn) (2) (when addressing young boys) you; (pn) (3) (See しもべ) manservant
Watashi/Watakushi/Atashi
- 私【あたし(P); あたくし; あたい; あて】 (pn) (fem) (uk) I; me; (P); 【わたし】 ; (pn) (slightly formal or feminine) I; me; (P); : 妾; 私【わらわ】 ; (pn) (arch) (hum) (fem) I; me; : 儂; 私【わし】 ; (pn) (uk) (male) (used by elderly) I; me; 【あっし; わっし】 ; (pn) (mainly used by working men) I; me; 【し】 ; (n) (See 公・こう・1) private affairs; personal matter; 【わい; わて】 ; (pn) (1) (arch) (ksb:) I; me; (pn) (2) (わい only) (used toward people of equal or lower status) you; 【わたい】 ; (pn) (arch) (ktb:) I; me; 【わたくし】 ; (pn) (1) (usu. more formal than わたし) (See 私・わたし) I; me; (adj-no,n) (2) (ant: 公・おおやけ・2) personal (affairs, etc.); private; (n) (3) selfishness; partiality; (n) (4) secrecy; confidentiality; 【わっち】 ; (pn) (used esp. by people of low status) I; me
Chūboku
- 忠僕【ちゅうぼく】 (n) faithful servant
Nōto
- ノート (n) (1) (abbr) (See ノートブック) notebook; copy-book; exercise book

We Want Your Questions

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We’re always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.