When Japanese people learn English, we’re first taught to memorize “I, my, me, mine” like a little spell. But in Japanese, there are so many first‑person pronouns that you basically have to learn them by using them… honestly, there’s no other way.
If you enjoy Japanese anime, you’ve probably noticed something like this:
“One character calls themselves watashi, but another says ore… why?”
That’s because Japanese first‑person pronouns change completely depending on the character.
Some pronouns are used by both men and women, some are gender‑specific, and others change depending on dialect or character personality.
In this article, I’ll walk you through these wonderfully varied Japanese first‑person pronouns in a relaxed, easy way. Once you start picking up the nuances behind each pronoun, you’ll understand anime and manga characters’ personalities and moods much more accurately.
If you’re curious, let’s dive in.
The Most Common First‑Person Pronoun: “Watashi”
— A polite, gender‑neutral way to say “I”
The most commonly used first‑person pronoun in Japanese is watashi. Many people associate it with women, but in formal situations—like business settings—men use watashi as well. Older generations also tend to use watashi regardless of gender.
Watashi is polite and appears in every textbook, making it the safest and most standard pronoun for learners. If you’re studying Japanese, starting with watashi is the easiest and most reliable choice.
The Most Formal Version of “Watashi”: Watakushi
Watakushi is an even more formal version of watashi, written with the same kanji. Unlike watashi, watakushi is almost never used in everyday conversation. You’ll mainly hear it in very formal situations—for example, when a company representative speaks to customers and says something like “watakushidomo wa…” (“we, the company…”).
Because of its formality, watakushi is considered the most polite and respectful first‑person pronoun in Japanese, and it appears often in business or official contexts.
Men Sometimes Use “Boku” — A Gentle, Polite First‑Person Pronoun
In addition to watashi, men often use boku as a first‑person pronoun. It carries a softer, polite tone and can be used even in business settings, depending on the atmosphere.
Women almost never use boku in real life. It’s not “wrong,” but when a female character uses boku, it creates a specific character archetype known as a “boku‑kko”—a cute, slightly boyish girl who refers to herself with boku.
Examples include:
- Sera Masumi (Detective Conan)
- Sylphiette (Mushoku Tensei)
- Diane (The Seven Deadly Sins)
When a female character says boku, it often signals a certain charm or uniqueness that fans find appealing.
Also, young boys frequently use boku, so the pronoun naturally carries a sense of innocence or childlike softness.
“Ore” — A Casual, Masculine First‑Person Pronoun
Ore is a first‑person pronoun that men commonly use in everyday conversation. Compared to boku, ore feels much more casual and carries a strong masculine tone. Because of that, it’s rarely used in business settings, and women almost never use it in real life.
There is a character archetype similar to the boku‑kko called an “ore‑kko”—a girl who refers to herself with ore—but it’s extremely rare. That’s because ore has a rough, assertive, and traditionally masculine feel that doesn’t naturally fit most female characters.
In short, ore is one of the strongest “masculine” first‑person pronouns in Japanese, and it instantly gives a character a bold, confident vibe.
Various First‑Person Pronoun Variations in Japanese
From here, let’s take a quick look at some common variations of Japanese first‑person pronouns.
If you’d like to learn each one in more detail, feel free to check the full Japanese version of this article using translation.
- Atashi — casual feminine form
- Ashi / A‑shi / Atai — character‑specific feminine variants
- Washi — elderly or old‑fashioned tone
- Uchi — originally Kansai dialect, now a cute feminine pronoun
- Ora — rural or dialectal feel (e.g., Goku, Shin‑chan)
- Sessha / Soregashi — samurai-style historical pronouns
- Jibun — used in formal or hierarchical settings
- Name as pronoun — childlike or cute tone
The first‑person pronouns introduced in this article are only the basics. Japanese has many more variations depending on region, dialect, and even character personality. In manga and anime, some characters even use unique, invented pronouns that don’t appear in everyday life.
For learners, this can be overwhelming, but Japanese speakers pick up very different impressions depending on which pronoun someone uses. Once you start noticing these differences, you’ll understand a character’s personality, mood, and subtle nuances much more deeply.
If you enjoy Japanese manga or anime, try paying attention to the first‑person pronouns characters use. It might change the way you see them.
Bonus: In My Hometown, “Watashi” Becomes “Wa” and “Anata” Becomes “Na”
I’m from the Tohoku region, and the older people there speak with a pretty strong zuzu‑ben (Tohoku accent).
My parents didn’t have much of an accent, so as a kid I often struggled to understand elderly people…
honestly, it was like listening practice on hard mode.
When I visited recently, I couldn’t fully catch the innkeeper’s accent at a local ryokan, so I just nodded along and kept the conversation going.
In my hometown:
- “watashi” → “wa”
- “anata” → “na”
It’s funny, but in a way it almost sounds minimalist or even modern—
like a super‑condensed Reiwa‑style Japanese.
Are there any interesting or unusual ways people refer to themselves in your country or language?
I’d love to hear about them^^
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