Comments on: The many ways to say “I”

By: Jordan

Jordan — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:42:23 +0000

“atai” is often shortened, like when people ask each other out. It’s often said as “suki ate kudasai” directly translating to “Love me please”
Note: men always seem to use it this way when asking girls out

By: Akinyele Brandley

Akinyele Brandley — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 03:10:38 +0000

Half of these words aren’t even used!
Another foreigner being a spokesperson for Japan!

By: juca

juca — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 04:46:56 +0000

I heard “uchi” in Non non biyori. I have the japanese subtitles, and this uses hiragana. The translators don’t understand uchi as “I”, but only as “home”. I was luck that I have a good and old printeddictionary.

By: alan

alan — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 22:16:10 +0000

This is an old post, but it is great. 内uchi　actually has a place in the Kangxi Dictionary, used by married men to refer to his 妻 or 妾. And because these 妻 or 妾s are always ‘inside’ their house, as the norm asks them to, they got the name ‘内’, which means ‘inside’ as well. I think this origin is enough to persuade me not to use it to say “I” as a man.

By: mikio

mikio — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 20:44:49 +0000

Uchi actually is gender specific. While I’ve heard a very masculine and “tough” girl say “ore” and some effeminate gay men say “atashi” I’ve never ever heard any male person say “uchi” as a personal pronoun.

You must be confusing it with the meaning “our store/company/restaurant/etc.”. When men use “uchi” it always is used in the sense “our place”, “how we do it here”, “our policy” etc.

Uchi is used as a personal pronoun in the Kinki region by women. It’s kind of cute way of talking and is more commonly used by girls and younger women but is not unheard of for older women either.

Atai is nowadays by very “tough”, rebellious women, always rare but fallen even more out of fashion since the 80’s or early 90’s.

I know someone who uses “jibun” just like any “boku” or “watashi”. For that and other reasons there’s no one really who doesn’t think him weird. It sounds strange used like that, except maybe in military context.

By: Japanese Citizen #101

Japanese Citizen #101 — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:30:57 +0000

The list is no way complete.
Some has been mentioned already like, chin, wa, yo, washi, ora and jibun. They are not necessarily common use but all used as “I.”
Others includes (but not limited to) oidon, atai, wah, bokuchan, touhou, honkan, soregashi, gusei, watakushime, shousei, and temae.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 23:10:30 +0000

Please clearly outline the difference between 内　and こっち. I’m a bit lost

By: DaVince

DaVince — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 08:20:49 +0000

From what I’ve seen, jibun is usually used when you’re talking in a context of “I myself”. So in your example, Tommy, it would make perfect sense (“I myself wouldn’t use that weapon”).

By: K9T

K9T — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 06:31:47 +0000

I believe uchi (内) when used as a pronoun for “I” is primarly feminine Kansai dialect (or so I was told by my friend from Kyouto), but it can be used generally (not just Kansai-ben) to refer to one’s company/school/house/family/etc. without that connotation, I think.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:28:00 +0000

自分（jibun) can also mean “you” in some cases. Example: で、自分どうすんの？＝ so, what are you gonna do?