Watashi vs Boku vs Ore: How to Say I in Japanese
Watashi vs boku vs ore is a common question, because all three mean I in Japanese. The difference is the feeling. 私 (watashi) is neutral and polite, and works for anyone. 僕 (boku) is softer and casual, and is often used by boys and men. 俺 (ore) is very casual and sounds confident or rough. As a beginner, use watashi, and often leave out I altogether.
What is the difference between watashi, boku and ore?
Japanese has several words for I. Each one tells the listener a little about the speaker and the situation, so people often switch between them during the day. Here are the ones you will meet most.
| Word | Romaji | Who tends to use it | The feeling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 私 | watashi | Everyone, in polite or formal speech. In casual speech, more often women | Neutral, polite, safe |
| 私 | watakushi | Anyone in very formal settings, such as speeches or business | Very formal, careful |
| 僕 | boku | Often boys and men, with friends or in relaxed polite speech | Soft, friendly, modest |
| 俺 | ore | Often men, with close friends and family | Casual, confident, can sound rough |
| あたし | atashi | Often girls and women, in casual speech | Casual, soft, friendly |
| うち | uchi | Often girls and young women, especially in western Japan | Casual, regional, homely |
These are tendencies, not rules. Some women use boku, some men use watashi with friends, and the same person may say watashi at work and ore at home. Watashi and watakushi share the kanji 私. Watashi is also often written in hiragana, わたし.
Which word for I should beginners use?
Use watashi. It is correct for every speaker, in every polite situation, and it never sounds rude. It also matches the polite desu and masu forms you learn first.
私は学生です。
Watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.
Here は is the topic particle, said wa. Our guide to wa vs ga in Japanese explains how it works.
Boku is a fine choice for men once you feel settled, especially in casual chats. Ore is best kept for close friends, because it can sound too strong in a shop, at work or with someone older.
Do Japanese speakers say I all the time?
No. When it is clear who you mean, Japanese usually leaves the word out. Saying watashi wa in every sentence can sound a little heavy, rather like starting every English sentence with "As for me".
学生です。
Gakusei desu.
I am a student.
東京から来ました。
Tōkyō kara kimashita.
I came from Tokyo.
A good habit is to use watashi wa once, when you introduce yourself or change the topic to you, and then drop it. You can see this in a first meeting on our page about how to say nice to meet you in Japanese.
How do you say you in Japanese?
The textbook word is あなた (anata). It is correct, but in conversation people often avoid it, because it can sound distant or a little direct. Instead, they use the person's name with さん (san), or leave you out.
田中さんは学生ですか。
Tanaka-san wa gakusei desu ka.
Are you a student? (speaking to Tanaka)
You will still see anata on forms and in adverts, where there is no name to use. Other words for you, such as 君 (kimi) and お前 (omae), are casual and can sound rude, so leave them for later. Our guide to Japanese honorifics explains san and the other name endings.
How LanguaCards helps
Small words like watashi and anata sound easy on paper, but they stick better when you hear them in real phrases. In LanguaCards, Japanese words are grouped by JLPT level, from N5 to N1, and every card has audio in a female or male voice. Romaji is shown under the Japanese, and you can switch it off when you are ready. Reviews bring each word back before you would forget it, and you can make your own packs for the phrases you use to talk about yourself.