Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are a key element of the Japanese language. Whereas the English “I” is a simple self-reference, Japanese personal pronouns convey politeness levels, gender, regional flavor, age, and relationship dynamics. The same person may use different pronouns depending on the situation and audience. Personal pronouns are often omitted when the subject is clear from context.

Note that the information below may be skewed toward usage in manga, and may deviate from real life usage.

私: Neutral and Polite

私(わたし) can be considered the default polite pronoun. Males typically limit their usage of 私 professional and respectful contexts, finding it to be overly refined or too detached when used among peers. Females are likely to use 私 even in casual situations.

僕: Casual and Masculine

僕(ぼく) is more informal, and is primarily used by males. It’s commonly used among boys and young men, and when relaxed social circles. It may feel immature or childish if used by older men in serious situations.

Due to its masculine vibe, its rare usage by a female may signal a tomboyish or rebellious personality.

俺 Rough and Intimate Masculine

俺(おれ) is more informal and masculine than 僕(ぼく). It is often associatd with toughness, confidence, and closeness. Its usage is fairly exclusive to men, especially when among close male friends.

あたし: Cutesy and Feminine

あたし is similar to 私(わたし), but is more feminine, used by females in informal settings with friends or family. It’s popular among teens and young adults, but old women are likely to avoid it as being too cutesy or unrefind.

わたくし: Highly Formal

わたくし is more formal than 私(わたし). It may be used by males, but is more common to females. In casual chat, it comes of as pretentious.

うち: Cozy and Feminine

うち is cozy and homey, with a folksy charm. It’s mainly used by females, especially in the Kansai region. Outside the region, it may be used playfully for cuteness.