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Which Japanese pronoun do I use?

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ChaoticQueen Since: Mar, 2011
#1: Jan 18th 2018 at 9:36:13 AM

I'm working on a story where the protagonist is a Japanese woman. She's a genuinely noble and heroic figure, but also one who's extremely arrogant and narcissistic. There's a scene where she has a conversation with someone in Japanese. Her friend listening to the conversation doesn't understand, but picks up a few key words. The friend notices the protagonist use an extremely arrogant pronoun when referring to herself. My question is, which pronoun should I use?

I looked at the list for Japanese Pronouns and found two that might fit: ore-sama and wagahai. However, when I looked these two up, I found that they were exclusively male pronouns. Is there a female equivalent to these? Or should I just use one of these pronouns anyway?

RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
dragonfire5000 from Where gods fear to tread Since: Jan, 2001
#3: Jan 18th 2018 at 11:13:47 AM

I've heard a few female characters use the Ore pronoun (such as Charlotte Linlin from One Piece or Veruschka from Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon). Ore-sama is something I've only ever heard from male characters though.

"I squirm, I struggle, ergo I am. Faced with death, I am finally, truly alive."
ChaoticQueen Since: Mar, 2011
#4: Jan 18th 2018 at 2:42:51 PM

Darn. I was really hoping there was a female equivalent. I guess ore will have to do, but it doesn't have the same impact.

Kazeto Elementalist from somewhere in Europe. Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
Elementalist
#5: Jan 18th 2018 at 3:35:01 PM

Just use ware, it's the most gender-neutral thing. That said, there are no "arrogant-sounding" pronouns that are at the same time known commonly enough that someone who does not know Japanese would be able to note them as sounding anything but foreign to them, so I see that particular sub-plot of yours as contrived. Think about that for a moment.

WaterBlap Blapper of Water Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Blapper of Water
#6: Jan 19th 2018 at 8:21:08 AM

The character could be trying to learn Japanese. There ideally should be a few reasons, on an in-universe level and a writer's level. But it doesn't need to be clearly contrived.

edited 19th Jan '18 8:21:20 AM by WaterBlap

Look at all that shiny stuff ain't they pretty
Dravencour Since: Mar, 2015
#7: Mar 22nd 2018 at 6:28:05 AM

"Watakushi-sama" is one that might be fun to use, as it has a kind of princessy air.

edited 22nd Mar '18 6:29:17 AM by Dravencour

shadowrose07 Since: Jun, 2010
#8: Jul 12th 2018 at 1:51:37 AM

I write a Bokukko (not that I know enough Japanese to show it) whom I could imagine using "ore-san" once or twice.... Not quite the same level of arrogance that you seem to be shooting for, but I thought I'd throw my two cents in....

NonTroper precure from pretty cure universe Since: Sep, 2017 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
precure
#9: Mar 7th 2019 at 7:29:21 AM

Atai is basically the female equivalent of ore-sama.

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