History UsefulNotes / JapanesePronouns

* [[TheBully Yozora]] of ''LightNovel/{{Haganai}}'' regularly addresses [[SitcomArchNemesis Sena]] this way, when she's not simply calling her "[[GagBoobs Meat]]". The protagonist Kodaka's little sister Kobato often uses this, but it's just part of her [[CosplayOtakuGirl cosplay]] of a vampire show she enjoys.

* ''Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': More often than not, the nicest character in an ensemble in this series will use this pronoun. Examples include Jonathan Joestar, Noriaki Kakyoin, and Koichi Hirose.

:''Atashi'': あたし Informal, assertive, yet feminine version of "watashi". It is most commonly used to make a female character sound very casual, which makes it perfect for tomboys who aren't tomboy enough to use the male pronoun "boku". Amusingly, its casualness also makes it a good choice for characters who are confident about themselves and their femininity, especially if they're to be put in contrast with a "watashi"-using ShrinkingViolet. If a male character uses ''atashi'' it is almost certainly meant to imply that he's CampGay. In Kagoshima, it is ''atai'' above.

:''Jibun'': 自分 "Myself." 99% of the time this serves as a reflexive pronoun just like its English translation, but occasionally it can also be used as a general first person pronoun. Because it's quite detached and impersonal, military types may use it to indicate professionalism. Although more often heard from men, it's technically gender-neutral, so ''jibun'' can be useful [[TheAllConcealingI if writers want to disguise a character's gender]]. Confusingly, in [[KansaiRegionalAccent Kansai-ben]] ''jibun'' means "you" instead of "I" (when not being used for a reflexive).

Japanese, unlike English, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-drop_language allows all pronouns to be omitted from sentences when they can be inferred from context.]] In fact, it not only allows it: you are ''more'' likely to speak without pronouns than with them. In spite of this -- or perhaps because of it -- Japanese has far more pronouns than the average language. There are more than three dozen Japanese words that can be translated as "I" and even more that can be translated as "you." Each of them makes a different statement about the speaker's gender, age, social status, relationship with the addressee, and how the speaker wants to present themselves. To [[{{Woolseyism}} capture a little of the flavor]], English translations sometimes use "this (category of person)" -- this little girl, this humble peasant, this Badass.

* In ''Manga/ZatchBell'', the protagonist says "unu" as an archaic RoyalWe to the point of being a VerbalTic. It's meant to foreshadow him being a son of the former demon king -- he got the quirk upon discovering he had a family at all when he was being raised by a disturbingly abusive old woman and keeps saying it even as he spends most of the series with amnesia.

* ''Manga/DeathNote'': A revealing clue to Light and L's personalities (and ages, and nationalities...) is when they make the same speech, but Light uses ''boku'' and L uses ''watashi''.

:''Wagahai'': 我輩/我が輩 Every bit as arrogant and presumptuous as ''ore-sama'', with the added benefit of being quite archaic. Note that 50% of the time you see this, it's an allusion to ''Wagahai wa Neko de aru'' (''Literature/IAmACat''), a well-known Japanese satirical novel.

It's used more freely in fictional writing, where usually it is used by gods and powerful immortal entities, as well archaic kings, self-proclaimed lords and rulers. It is commonly used by DemonLordsAndArchdevils to emphasize their wise and archaic age. Incantations will likely use this pronoun for the first person. A TalkingWeapon is also likely to use this to refer to itself.\\\

:''Watakushi'': 私, わたくし An ultra-formal term, often used in anime by characters who are profusely polite, very sophisticated, or somewhat old-fashioned. Fictional royalty tends to use this, especially princesses and the like. It's also used in place of ''watashi'' in very formal speech (for example, a job interview). A more feminine variant is ''atakushi'' あたくし.

:''Nanji'': 汝/爾 Another archaic form, roughly equivalent to "thou." Used in Literature/TheBible, and to translate the speech of Quakers in films. Incantations, spells, and the like tend to use this for the second person.

In anime, it can also be used by tomboyish girls, regardless of social context; these characters are known as ''{{Bokukko}}''. (Note, however, that the ''bokukko'' phenomenon is a prominent example of how anime dialogue differs from actual spoken Japanese; in the real world, it would be a bit weird for a female native speaker to refer to herself as ''boku'' outside of close company). Female singers and poets may also use ''boku'' purely for metrical purposes. Interestingly, in some recent anime, this pronoun tend to be used by androgynous characters with either AmbiguousGender or/and ViewerGenderConfusion, such as [[Anime/YuGiOhGX Yubel]], [[Manga/SoulEater Crona]], or [[Manga/SeraphOfTheEnd Ashuramaru]]. If used by villains, expect them to be a PsychopathicManchild and/or a SissyVillain.

** The Mewtwo appearing in the ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' uses ''watashi'' in the Japanese versions, with the above-mentioned connotations of aloofness. It reflects both his [[NoNonsenseNemesis cold and ruthless demeanor]] as well as his [[TragicVillain inner turmoil.]]

** The Mewtwo appearing in the ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' special ''Mewtwo Strikes Back'' uses ''watashi'' in the Japanese version, with the above-mentioned connotations of aloofness.

* [[GenderFlip Enma]] in ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'', being the ruler of the Afterworld.

* Kisei in ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}''. He is a perpetual {{Keigo}} speaker.

* Characters/{{Batman}} from ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' uses ''watashi''. One of his famous quotes, "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!" is translated as follows: "Watashi wa hōfuku. Watashi wa yoru. Watashi wa Battoman!"

* Franchise/{{Batman}} from ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' uses ''watashi''. One of his famous quotes, "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!" is translated as follows: "Watashi wa hōfuku. Watashi wa yoru. Watashi wa Battoman!"

* Franchise/{{Batman}} from VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight uses ''watashi''. One of his famous quotes, "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!" is translated as follows: "Watashi wa hōfuku. Watashi wa yoru. Watashi wa Battoman!"

* Franchise/Batman from VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight uses ''watashi''. One of his famous quotes, "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!" is translated as follows: "Watashi wa hōfuku. Watashi wa yoru. Watashi wa Battoman!"

:''Watashi'': 私 A standard, polite word for "I", usable by both men and women in formal situations. It's also fine for women in informal situations; a man who uses it in an informal context may come across as business-like or aloof, sometimes effeminate. In the case of children, ''watashi'' is often used by girls, but never by boys, who use ''boku''. In Japanese as a second language courses, ''watashi'' is almost always the first word for "I" learned. In the TohokuRegionalAccent, it may be pronounced ''watasu'' instead.

* Li Kuugo in ''VideoGame/LiveALive''. The translation patch translates this as her having a rude, tomboyish attitude.

* In VideoGame/MegaManZero, Phantom of the Four Guardians also uses this, fitting for a {{ninja}} with UndyingLoyalty. It also contrasts him with his BloodKnight brothers, Fefnir and Harpuia.

* ''Manga/BlueExorcist'' contrasts[[HotBlooded Rin's]] ''ore'' with his younger twin brother [[StepfordSmiler Yukio's]] ''boku''.

---> '''Kittan:''' [...]Ore-Sama no Tamashi!! (My magnificent soul!!)

--->(Politely)'' '''Sessha''' wa rurōni. Ate no nai tabi no kenkaku de gozaru yo.'' ("I [this humble one] am a wanderer. I am a swordsman on an aimless journey.")
--->(With murderous rage)'' '''Ore''' ga korosu to itta ijō, omae no shi wa zettai da.'' ("Once I say I will kill, your death is certain.")

--->''Kuru zo, Kazuki! Te o hanasu na! '''Kimi''' to watashi wa isshin dōtai. '''Kimi''' ga shinu toki ga watashi ga shinu toki da!'' ("Incoming, Kazuki! Don't let go! You and me, together as one. When you die, I die!")

-->"Ware ware wa... NUDISTO BEACHH!!!"\\