How To Say 'You' In Japanese (Without Starting a Fight!) (2023)

FAQs

Is saying Anata rude? ›

When Japanese people explicitly state “you” in their sentences, it's proper to use the person's name and attach a suffix. You are probably already familiar with “～san”, which is a polite suffix. If you use “anata” with someone who you know, it is rude.

あなた — Anata

Typically written with hiragana, あなた is the standard, polite way to refer to the listener in a conversation, though generally it is only used when you do not know the name of the person you are speaking to.

Simply using the person's name is the best way to say you in Japanese. In fact, that's what you would use instead of “anata,” which is mentioned below. You should add honorifics like chan or kun to make it sound more friendly.

You can express ability or potential if you use the dictionary form of verbs, and attach to it KOTO GA DEKIMASU (can do / Literally, can do the thing of). Let's make a sentence, using KOTO GA DEKIMASU. When you say "I can go," "I" is WATASHI. "To go" is IKIMASU.

The worst pejorative I know of in Japanese is baka ("fool; idiot; stupid"), which has a long history going back to at least the 14th century.

Kuso is used as an expletive to react in anger, shock, disappointment and frustration. Depending on how you say it and in what context, kuso can be as innocent as saying 'damn! ' or as vulgar as 'f*ck' in English. If you just lost a game and you're pissed off, you can say kuso in the same way as saying 'dammit!

The expression baka-yarō 馬鹿野郎 is one of the most insulting terms in the Japanese lexicon, but it is vague and can range in meaning from an affectionate 'silly-willy' to an abusive 'jerk-off fool'. Baka-yarō is so widely used that it has become semantically weak and vague.

In OGENKI DESU KA (Are you fine?), OGENKI is an adjective GENKI (fine, healthy) with an honorific O before it. If you answer, “Yes, I'm fine,” you say HAI, GENKI DESU.

Boku: Polite, Sophisticate, Humble You can use it among your friends but they may feel you are too polite. It is appropriate word to a person who you meet at the first time.

What does Anata wa kawaii? ›

1) ANATA WA KAWAII DESU（あなたは可愛いです。） □ It means "You are cute.”. (

In formal or polite contexts, “watashi” is gender neutral. However, when it's used in informal or casual contexts, it is usually perceived as feminine. “Boku” is used by men and young boys.

Informal “you”:

君 （kimi）: used by men toward people of lower status. Typically not rude. (not inherently formal/informal, but makes the status hierarchy explicit, and is therefore better suited to formal situations)

BOKU is for males and KIMI is referring to a female and is equivalent to ANATA. However in some songs the girls use BOKU as you mentioned.

When we talk about the existence of inanimate things, we use ARIMASU (There is, There are, to exist). Its negative form is ARIMASEN (There are not, not to exist).

go = 行きます いきます ikimasu. come = 来ます きます kimasu. return; come back; go home = 帰ります かえります kaerimasu.

The Nippon Kaigi (日本会議, "Japan Conference") is Japan's largest ultra-conservative and ultranationalist far-right non-governmental organization and lobby group.

くそ (Kuso)

‍Kuso is the more common way to say 'sh*t' or 'f*ck' compared to chikusho (#6). And like chikushou (#11), it's a versatile word that can be used in many different ways. Fun fact, it's one of the most popular words for foreigners and new Japanese learners to use.

Japanese, however, doesn't have a true [f] sound. What it does have is a voiceless bilabial fricative, represented in IPA with the symbol ⟨ɸ⟩, a sound Wikipedia describes this way: For English-speakers, it is easiest to think of the sound as an f-sound made only with the lips, instead of the upper teeth and lower lip.

“Baka” is the most common Japanese swear word. The baka meaning usually translates to foolish or stupid. But it can take on a whole range of meanings depending on context, relationship, and other factors. In kanji, it's usually written baka 馬鹿 ばか .

Is Shimatta a swear word? ›

Swear word number 7! Shimatta! This swear word literately means “oh no! It happened” but is usually translated as “crap”, or “damn.”

Aho, a phrase in the Kansai dialect of Japanese, meaning "idiot", see Baka (Japanese word)#Dialectal.

Yui can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: 唯, "only, alone, sole"

Ara ara (あら あら) is a Japanese expression that is mainly used by older females and means “My my”, “Oh dear”, or “Oh me, oh my”.

The word nani 何 (なに) in Japanese means "what." And depending on the situation, you might, instead, use nan (なん). Which term you use depends on the context, in particular, whether you are speaking or writing formally or informally.

1 Answer. “Sussy” and “sus” are words used in the videogame Among Us to describe someone shifty or suspicious, whilst baka means “fool” in Japanese. So to be a sussy baka is to be a suspicious fool, presumably – although it appears that the meme has taken this meaning and ran with it a little.

お前 (Omae) is the Japanese word for “you” that is considered very rude.

With a simple dou itashimashite, or “you're welcome” in Japanese! The dictionary and beginner Japanese phrase checklists would have you believe that's the only way to say “you're welcome” in Japanese.

あなた is neither polite nor rude. But, it could be either. あなた is, most of the time, neutral. I like to think of it as a blank canvas.

Can girls use Boku no? ›

Boku is for male use only. Men talking among themselves will use it or men addressing female persons will do so, too. Please note, however, that its use is limited to informal settings, such as family or friends. Watashi is for more general use: by men in formal situations, by women in formal and informal situations.

Saying ore in formal contexts is never appropriate, no matter your gender. With your friends, virtually anything goes, just be aware that because girls virtually never use it, it will be percieved as weird.

The most common way to write kimi in Japanese is with the kanji 君. When it is done this way, the meaning of the word is “you” in English.

Kawaii desu ne means, it's cute, isn't it? Or as a Canadian… it's cute, eh? Trust me, if you spend some time in Japan, you'll definitely hear this phrase… so even better if you learn it now!

The most formal and neutral way to say 'I love you' in Japanese would be : 私はあなたが好きです。/ Watashi ha anata ga suki desu.

watashi no – 私の (わたしの) : a phrase meaning 'my' in Japanese. Depending on the situation and context, it can also be used to mean 'mine'.

僕 (boku) carries a masculine impression; it is typically used by males, especially those in their youth. Japanese words that refer to other people are part of the encompassing system of honorific speech and should be understood within that context.

🧑‍💼 Senpai (先輩、せんぱい)

As with "Sensei" is used interchangeably by sex, and does not necessarily follows the name. You might find it transcribed as "sempai". Its opposite is "Kohai/kouhai" but it is rarely used when talking to someone.

no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its possessive case, “boku no”, which means 'my' in Japanese.

Both are used in anime with a voice which usually sounds disrespectful. In the end, temee basically means 'you' or 'bastard'. It is therefore very vulgar. I'd suggest using it only with friends (preferably non-Japanese) or for comedic purposes.

Is Omae polite? ›

“omae" can be condescending and quite rude. It is used for those below you in age, experience, social status, just anyone you consider to be beneath you. Can be insulting. It's generally a very rude and aggressive way to say "you" to your enemies.

Unlike many western cultures, in Japan people generally don't call one-another by their first name. Doing so can be a mark of disrespect, unless you're very close to the other person and in the right sort of casual environment, so you've read.

Kimi is a feminine name of Japanese origin.

あなた can be used often from the third person to second person, such as teachers/tutors to pupils/students, a boss at work to workers. This mean does not always apply the higher position to the lower but I feel the person in lower position is difficult to say あなた to the higher position.

Generally speaking, "anata" is a neutral way of saying "you" while "kimi" is a very casual and rather boyish way of saying it.

あなた — Anata

Typically written with hiragana, “Anata [あなた]” is the standard, polite way to refer to the listener in a conversation, though generally it is only used when you do not know the name of the person you are speaking to. It is typically used by women.

あんた （anta）： a shortened version of anata, highly informal and generally rude or admonishing in nature.

Since あなた is still a somewhat formal-sounding word, it is not as obviously rude as derogatory pronouns like お前, or the very casual version of あなた — あんた. You can use あなた as a formality to sound rational and professional when you communicate negative emotions, such as anger, hatred, hostility, or a sense of rivalry.

It's a common sort of pet name that wives use with husbands. It's only really used between married couples, so if you call someone you know “Anata あなた (You)” it might sound like you're calling them “sweetheart” or “darling.” That's probably not going to be appropriate with your boss.

Just look at “yabai!” It's all yabai to me. “Yabai” (やばい, often stylized ヤバい) actually shares much in common with “f*ck.” The major difference, obviously, is that yabai isn't really an offensive word. (While Japan lacks expletives in the English sense, it does have plenty of rude words – and taboo ones as well.)

Should I use Watashi or Boku? ›

Japanese men use those three words depending on who they are speaking to and the situation. When meeting someone for the first time, you should use “watashi”. And when you have become somewhat close to them, you can use “boku”. Then when you have become very close to them, you can use “ore.”

お前 (Omae) is the Japanese word for “you” that is considered very rude.

Technically there aren't really swear words as such in Japanese. Instead you'll find that most swear words in Japanese, or ways to swear in Japanese, are done by using more common words or phrases and adding a couple of words or changing the way you say them.

In 1995, the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, the character Asuka practically uses Anta baka? as a catchphrase, roughly translated as “What are you, stupid?”

Generally speaking, "anata" is a neutral way of saying "you" while "kimi" is a very casual and rather boyish way of saying it.

Anata is the all-purpose “you”. You can address almost anyone as anata, though typically you should call them [Name]-san if you know their name. Kimi is more familiar and informal, suitable for using with subordinates/juniors. It can have an affectionate tone depending on your relationship with the person.

Note: Men can also use あなた ( = anata ) both verbally or in a written form. Supervisors to subordinates. That means, you should avoid using あなた（ = anata) when you talk to older people or your boss, clients or teachers. Even with someone the same age, using あなた ( = anata), would feel a bit awkward.

(ONAMAE WA NAN DESUKA/What is your name?) than あなたは だれですか。 (ANATA WA DARE DESUKA/Who are you?)