What is atashi?

Question

What is atashi?

Attar Manish · Answer

Japanese pronouns are words in the Japanese language used to address or refer to present people or things, where present means people or things that can be pointed at. The position of things (far away, nearby) and their role in the current interaction (goods, addresser, addressee, bystander) are features of the meaning of those words. The use of pronouns, especially when referring to oneself and speaking in the first person, vary between gender, formality, dialect and region where Japanese is spoken.

In contrast to present people and things, absent people and things can be referred to by naming; for example, by instantiating a class, "the house" (in a context where there is only one house) and presenting things in relation to the present, named and sui generis people or things can be "I'm going home", "I'm going to Hayao's place", "I'm going to the mayor's place", "I'm going to my mother's place" or "I'm going to my mother's friend's place". Functionally, deictic classifiers not only indicate that the referenced person or thing has a spatial position or an interactional role but also classify it to some extent. In addition, Japanese pronouns are restricted by a situation type (register): who is talking to whom about what and through which medium (spoken or written, staged or in private). In that sense, when a male is talking to his male friends, the pronoun set that is available to him is different from those available when a man of the same age talks to his wife and, vice versa, when a woman talks to her husband. These variations in pronoun availability are determined by the register.

In linguistics, generativists and other structuralists suggest that the Japanese language does not have pronouns as such, since, unlike pronouns in most other languages that have them, these words are syntactically and morphologically identical to nouns.[1][2] As functionalists point out, however, these words function as personal references, demonstratives, and reflexives, just as pronouns do in other languages.[3][4]

Japanese has a large number of pronouns, differing in use by formality, gender, age, and relative social status of speaker and audience. Further, pronouns are an open class, with existing nouns being used as new pronouns with some frequency. This is ongoing; a recent example is jibun (自分, self), which is now used by some young men as a casual first-person pronoun.

Pronouns are used less frequently in the Japanese language than in many other languages,[5] mainly because there is no grammatical requirement to include the subject in a sentence. That means that pronouns can seldom be translated from English to Japanese on a one-to-one basis.

The common English personal pronouns, such as "I", "you", and "they", have no other meanings or connotations. However, most Japanese personal pronouns do. Consider for example two words corresponding to the English pronoun "I": 私 (watashi) also means "private" or "personal". 僕 (boku) carries a masculine impression; it is typically used by males, especially those in their youth.[6]

Japanese words that refer to other people are part of the encompassing system of honorific speech and should be understood within that context. Pronoun choice depends on the speaker's social status (as compared to the listener's) as well as the sentence's subjects and objects.

The first-person pronouns (e.g., watashi, 私) and second-person pronouns (e.g., anata, 貴方) are used in formal contexts (however the latter can be considered rude). In many sentences, pronouns that mean "I" and "you" are omitted in Japanese when the meaning is still clear.[3]

When it is required to state the topic of the sentence for clarity, the particle wa (は) is used, but it is not required when the topic can be inferred from context. Also, there are frequently used verbs that imply the subject and/or indirect object of the sentence in certain contexts: kureru (くれる) means "give" in the sense that "somebody other than me gives something to me or to somebody very close to me." Ageru (あげる) also means "give", but in the sense that "someone gives something to someone other than me." This often makes pronouns unnecessary, as they can be inferred from context.

In Japanese, a speaker may only directly express their own emotions, as they cannot know the true mental state of anyone else. Thus, in sentences comprising a single adjective (often those ending in -shii), it is often assumed that the speaker is the subject. For example, the adjective sabishii (寂しい) can represent a complete sentence that means "I am lonely." When speaking of another person's feelings or emotions, sabishisō (寂しそう) "seems lonely" would be used instead. Similarly, neko ga hoshii (猫が欲しい) "I want a cat," as opposed to neko wo hoshigatte iru (猫を欲しがっている) "seems to want a cat," when referring to others.[7] Thus, the first-person pronoun is usually not used unless the speaker wants to put a special stress on the fact that they are referring to themselves or if it is necessary to make it clear.

In some contexts, it may be considered uncouth to refer to the listener (second person) by a pronoun. If it is required to state the second person, the listener's surname, suffixed with -san or some other title (like "customer", "teacher", or "boss"), is generally used.

Gender differences in spoken Japanese also create another challenge, as men and women refer to themselves with different pronouns. Social standing also determines how people refer to themselves, as well as how they refer to other people.

Japanese first-person pronouns by speakers and situations according to Yuko Saegusa, Concerning the First Personal Pronoun of Native Japanese Speakers (2009)

The list is incomplete, as there are numerous Japanese pronoun forms, which vary by region and dialect. This is a list of the most commonly used forms. "It" has no direct equivalent in Japanese[3] (though in some contexts the demonstrative pronoun それ (sore) is translatable as "it"). Also, Japanese does not generally inflect by case, so, I is equivalent to me.

Suffixes are added to pronouns to make them plural.

Demonstrative words, whether functioning as pronouns, adjectives or adverbs, fall into four groups. Words beginning with ko- indicate something close to the speaker (so-called proximal demonstratives). Those beginning with so- indicate separation from the speaker or closeness to the listener (medial), while those beginning with a- indicate greater distance (distal). Interrogative words, used in questions, begin with do-.[3]

Demonstratives are normally written in hiragana.

For more forms, see Japanese demonstratives on Wiktionary.

Other interrogative pronouns include 何なに nani "what?" and 誰だれ dare "who(m)?".

Japanese has only one word corresponding to reflexive pronouns such as myself, yourself, or themselves in English. The word 自分 (jibun) means "one's self" and may be used for human beings or some animals. It is not used for cold-blooded animals or inanimate objects.[3][better source needed]

Rimsha serzvts · Answer

(If you’re fond of exploring Japanese synonyms, check my tool: Japanese Synonym Finder) First-Person Pronouns First, I introduce Japanese first-person pronouns (i.e. “I” in English). There are so many ways of saying “I” in Japanese, and each of them has a very different tone. 私 is the most general/common 1st person pronoun, esp. for women (but men use 私, too). It’s also used in writing/formal speech (e.g. essay, column, job interview) regardless of gender. In a casual conversation, some girls pronounce it as あたし (atashi), and it sounds much more feminine/casual than わたし. (cf.) There is a Japanese anime named “あたしンち (Atashin’chi)”, which is a casual way of saying  私の家(いえ), meaning “my home” 私は大学(だいがく)で日本語 (にほんご)の勉強(べんきょう)しています。
I study Japanese at university あたしは大丈夫 (だいじょうぶ)！
I‘m fine. うち (“ち” is accented) is a casual 1st person pronoun that is predominantly used by young girls (teens~early 20s). It sounds very casual, young and feminine, and is often used in the Kansai region (e.g. Osaka, Kyoto). Similarly, うちら meaning “we” is also used among girls. うちそれめっちゃ好き！
I love it so much! ウチらめっちゃ仲良くね？
We‘re so close, aren’t we? * うち also refers to an in-group member (e.g. family, company, team) うちの子 (こ) が迷惑(めいわく)かけてすみません
I’m sorry for my/our son/daughter causing trouble to you ** うち also means “one’s house” うちに来(こ)ない？
Do you wanna come to my house? 僕 is one of the most common 1st person pronouns for men. Compared to 俺 (to be explained below), 僕 sounds more modest, reserved, polite, and a bit smart. In a formal situation (e.g. a job interview), most men use either 私 or 僕. * Some women use 僕 as well. In anime/manga, they are often called “ボクっ娘（こ） (bokukko)”, and some people have a fetish for them. In texts (e.g. manga/subtitles), 僕 is often written in katakana (ボク) when it is used by girls. 僕は知(し)らないです
I don’t know (ボクっ娘): 君(きみ)みたいな人(ひと)、ボクは好(す)きだな
(Bokukko): I like people like you. 俺 is one of the most common 1st person pronouns for men. Compared to 僕, it sounds more casual, masculine, and slightly coarse. Men often use 俺 in a casual conversation with their close friends, but some people use 僕 if they are more of a reserved kind of person or don’t like coarse expressions at all. 俺は知 (し) らねえ
I don’t know. 自分 is a 1st person pronoun that sounds masculine, polite, and modest. In the Kansai region, however, it also means “you”, and in this case, it sounds casual and a bit coarse (therefore some people find it a bit rude/too friendly). 自分は言(い)ってないです:
I didn’t say (In the Kansai region) 自分、どこの大学なん？
Which uni are you in? * As you may know, 自分 is more commonly used as “oneself”. 自分でやるって言(い)ったでしょ？
You said you’d do by yourself, didn’t you? Originally, ワイ is an old-fashioned 1st-person pronoun used by old men in the Kansai region. On the internet, however, it is also used by young people (both men and women) very casually/humorously. Furthermore, while it is not very common yet in general, some teenage girls have started using it in real life recently as a playful expression, which sounds quite bizarre for middle-aged Kansai people given its original usage. (Kansai) ワイは行(い)かへんわ
I won’t go (行かへん means 行かない in standard Japanese) (On the internet) ワイ、大学 (だいがく) で友達 (ともだち)が出来(でき)ず辛(つら)い
I’m pretty sad coz I couldn’t make any friends at uni ワイも行きたい！
I wanna go, too! ワシ is also an old-fashioned 1-person pronoun used by elderly people. However, similar to ワイ, it is also used by young people on the internet as a casual and playful expression. ワシはもう疲れた
I‘ve got tired already. Some young girls use their first name instead of a pronoun to refer to themselves. This sounds very young and casual, and some people have a negative opinion about it (like it sounds selfish, childish or acting cute). Therefore, it can sound a bit cringy if adults refer to themselves using their names. ゆみは行きたくないなぁ
I (Yumi) don’t wanna go. * There’s a well-known and traditional Japanese book called “吾輩は猫である” (“I Am a Cat”), written by Soseki Natsume, a famous novelist who was portrayed on the former 1000 yen banknote. People often cite this book title to indicate how difficult it can be to translate the nuances of Japanese words into English (i.e. all the Japanese first-person pronouns explained so far end up being translated as “I” in English) Speaking of Soseki Natsume; there is a funny story about him that you may like;  “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Could Mean “I love You” in Japanese Second-Person Pronouns Next, I introduce Japanese second-person pronouns (“you” in English). However, note that none of them sounds very friendly; therefore, it’s safer for Japanese learners to refer to someone using their (nick)name, or simply omit the pronoun. あなた is the most common 2nd-person pronoun. However, it can sound a bit aloof/unfriendly/rude in a conversation, so it’s better to avoid using it. (あなたは)どこにいましたか？
Where are you? * It is also used as “darling” to call one’s husband. In this case, it sounds very intimate. あなた、晩(ばん)ご飯(はん)出来(でき)たわよ！
Darling, the dinner is ready! 君 is another 2nd-person pronoun. It has a condescending/bossy tone, so it can sound very rude depending on whom you’re talking to. 君は何(なに)を大学(だいがく)で勉強(べんきょう)したのかな？
What did you study at university? 君の話(はなし)は面白(おもしろ)いね
Your talk is interesting. お前 is a very casual 2nd-person pronoun that sounds aggressive, coarse, and masculine. Usually, it is used in the following situations: お前は何(なに)飲(の)む？
“What are you gonna drink?” おいお前、それやめろって言っただろ
“Hey you, I said stop it” * According to some online surveys, many women feel annoyed when their boyfriends call them “お前” because it sounds condescending. Therefore, it’s safe not to use お前, especially in the following cases: お主/そなた/そち are traditional Japanese 2-nd person pronouns. They have a condescending tone and are often used by high-ranking people in period dramas/animes. お主の望(のぞ)みを叶(かな)えてやろう
I’ll let your wishes come true. Thrid-Person Pronouns Lastly, I introduce third-person pronouns (i.e. “he” and “she” in English). As in 2nd person pronouns, all of them sound a bit aloof/unfriendly in speech, so it’s better not to use them in a conversation with your friends. 彼 and 彼女 are 3rd-person pronouns that mean “he/she”. However, 彼女 is more commonly used as a word meaning “girlfriend”. Similarly, 彼 also means “boyfriend”, but 彼氏 (かれし) is more commonly used. (talking about someone not present) 彼/彼女は子供 (こども) だからねぇ:
Well, he/she is childish, so… 彼氏/彼女が超(ちょう)かわいい
My boyfriend/girlfriend is so cute. あいつ is a 3rd-person pronoun that contains a coarse (and often hostile, but not always) tone. あいつのせいで失敗 (しっぱい) した
I failed because of him/her あいつ、すげえな
He/She is unbelievable! 誰かさん literally means “Somebody-san”, and is used when you refer to someone “anonymously” in a sarcastic/ironic way.

Sri Subbu · Answer

When I first started watching subtitled anime, I felt lost. Characters were using a variety of terms to refer to themselves and the subtitles translated them all to “I.” Until I began digging deeper into the language, I always thought that watashi was the only way to refer to say “I” in Japanese. It turns out that the Japanese language offers multiple forms of the personal pronoun. There’s a term for almost everyone, but that doesn’t mean you should use whatever sounds the coolest. Let’s dive into some of the most commonly used ways to say “I” in Japanese, the natural way. Download: 
 This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
 can take anywhere.
 Click here to get a copy. (Download) One of the first lessons you’ll learn in Japanese is to use the term watashi to refer to yourself in first person. Many traditional textbooks teach learners to use this term because it’s applicable to everyone, no matter what gender or age group you are. The Japanese word watashi is a genderless term that translates to “I” in English. Japanese language textbooks often suggest it as one of the best overall terms to use to describe yourself. Although it’s a great term to use when all the other pronouns can be confusing, it’s often seen as feminine. If a group of men is having a conversation using the term ore, the lone male saying watashi may feel slightly left out. But if you’re still a beginner, there are no repercussions for sticking with the basics. Watashi is a great overall term in either formal or polite situations. However, if you feel that watashi isn’t formal enough, choose watakushi, instead. Similar to watashi, watakushi is a genderless personal pronoun that can be used in business settings or with respected elders. But in contrast, it’s often used by adults in the workplace. Small children wouldn’t use the term when there are so many other choices. Watakushi is the ideal, polite term to use at work or when dealing with important contacts. This will ultimately depend on your workplace, and some may not mind if you prefer the more lax pronoun watashi. Just a warning: watakushi is rare to hear in casual settings. The only time you may hear it is from older women or from haughty characters in anime. Although watashi is accepting of everyone, the pronoun atashi is primarily used by women. Japanese doesn’t have helpful articles like the Spanish “el” or “la,” which can make learning about pronouns a little tricky. The vast majority of those using atashi are women. It’s also important to note that the kanji for atashi is exactly the same as watashi. If you come across the kanji while reading compelling Japanese content, seeing 私 without context might be confusing. It’ll be difficult to know if the writer meant watashi or atashi. Luckily, atashi is most commonly written in hiragana as あたし. Men normally don’t use the term, as it’s seen as a feminine pronoun. However, there’s no rule they can’t, just like women aren’t restricted to using atashi. As mentioned above, the formal version of watashi is watakushi. The same can also be done with the feminine pronoun atashi. Atakushi is the more formal and polite way of using atashi. Similar to watakushi, it’s uncommon to hear atakushi used during informal settings outside of anime or manga. Ore is one of the most popular terms used by men during informal speech. The term is a bit controversial, depending on who the pronoun is used around. Many men choose to only use ore around their close friends. But, you may wonder, why the secrecy? Why shouldn’t you say ore in front of a teacher or your boss? That’s because many people consider ore downright rude. If you’ve ever watched an anime series like “Naruto” or “Bleach,” you’ll notice the main characters saying ore with assertiveness. Using this pronoun is seen as cool, so it makes sense that manga creators would want their powerful protagonists using the confident pronoun. In manga, you may see ore written in either kanji, hiragana or katakana but they all share the same meaning of “I.” Kanji: 俺は一番。(おれは いちばん。)
Hiragana: おれは一番。
Katakana: オレは一番。 All three of these sentences translate to “I’m the best.” If you decide to adopt ore in your speech, just be cautious of who you’re using the term around. For example, saying ore in front of your new boss may seem boastful. Some women also use ore to refer to themselves in a more masculine way, compared to watashi or atashi. Oira and Ora are primarily region-specific, but some may recognize the terms used from popular series like “Dragon Ball” and “Crayon Shin-Chan.” Beware of using these informal terms: They have a slightly negative connotation of being a “country bumpkin.” “Dragon Ball” fans may remember that Goku grew up in the countryside and had some trouble fitting in with modern society. Both terms are normally written in hiragana without using kanji. Boku is a term mostly used by teens and younger men. It’s considered a more casual alternative to the assertive pronoun ore. A younger man may use boku to refer to himself when speaking with his older friends. The term does give off an air of “youth,” which is why older men choose the pronoun ore instead. Even Light Yagami from the popular series “Death Note” uses this pronoun to refer to himself: 僕は新世界の神となる。
(ぼくは しんせかいの かみと なる。)
I will be the God of a new world. While the sentence is assertive, using boku showcases Light’s youth. Light is only in high school, but he has dark goals. Boku is another predominantly male term that isn’t off-limits to female speakers. Teenage girls may also refer to themselves as boku to their friends. Other popular female entertainers are using the term to appear more masculine. In this case, boku is usually the preferred term over ore. Boku has also been used by women in songs, but don’t be confused. Some songs are written from a male perspective, but performed by a woman. Other times, the female singer is referring to something said by a male (who may be a boyfriend or love interest.) The first-person pronoun boku is seen as a predominantly masculine term and use by women is considered rare (for now). Boku is also used when referring to children as a second-person pronoun instead of anata, since the term anata may come off as rude. Reading manga targeted toward young elementary school children is a popular way of learning to read Japanese. You may quickly notice that the young characters use their first name, or refer to themselves in third-person. It’s very common that young children, usually those learning the language, will do this before choosing their preferred pronoun. Imagine the following two sentences are spoken by a young magical girl named Usagi (うさぎ): うさぎはケーキが大好きです。
(うさぎは けーきが だいすき です。) 私はケーキが大好きです。
(“わたしは けーきが だいすき です。) Both sentences have the same meaning: “Usagi loves cake.” Anime fans may also recognize their favorite female characters (usually) referring to themselves in third-person. Although this may seem cute on-screen, it’s typically frowned upon in a meeting with your boss. If you’re unsure which pronoun to pick, use watashi, and no one will bat an eyelash. While it’s important to learn the different varieties of self-identifying pronouns, remember that they’re not always used. Depending on the topic of the conversation, pronouns can be omitted if it’s implied that the subject is yourself. For example, if someone were to ask you your occupation, you can reply in two different ways using watashi: 私は学生です。
(わたしは がくせい です。) Or omitting 私は: 学生です。
(がくせい です。) Both have the same meaning in this context: “I am a student.” Using a pronoun before every sentence when speaking can also be unnatural. Saying “I” at the start of a sentence gets repetitive. At worst, you don’t want to sound too egotistical by constantly calling attention to yourself. At the same time, there are times when omitting the subject isn’t possible. Without context, 学生です is unclear. Your friend might wonder if you’re referring to yourself or someone else. Context is everything! While this guide primarily mentions the most common first-person pronouns, there are several in the Japanese language you won’t find in a textbook. As the language changes, older terms used decades ago are no longer in use today. It’s also important to note that just because it’s present in anime or manga, doesn’t mean it’s also used in real life.

Judi Kober · Answer