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ROMA JI
Write your name in Japanese
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Write your name in Japanese
Find kanji for your name.
Japanese Alphabet
(Iroha Uta)
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How many I's do you have?
How many You's are you?
How do you call your wife?

How do you call
How do you call
brother and sister?
How Japanese laugh?
Why Japan is Japan?
How Japan became Japan?
How many You's are you Japanese ?

  I call you in three ways according to your social position and the situation. In official place, I call you "anata". I use "omae" to my wife and subordinate in close relation. And I use "kimi" if you are not close relation and not superior.
  As same as words for I, there are a number of words for pronoun you. Can they be called pronoun? Here I prepared a table of you's

  You will notice when you hear japanese talking each other, the word for you "anata" is hardly heard. In english conversation, "you" is one of the most frequently used words. In japanese conversation, subject word and object word can be neglected when they can be easily guessed. "Did you heard that news?" is often expressed like as "News heard ?" and the reply is "heard", in reality "kiita yo". "kiita" is "heard". "yo" is a difficult explain word. It strengthens the former word and also expresses the familiarity to the speaker. There are several words like this. And their use have some diffence by gender. "kiita yo" of female is in most cases "kiita wa" or "kiita wayo".

* A remark is provided about the way of scripting japanese using a,b,c....

Expressions for You
word for you
in chinese
character
pronunciationdirect meaningsituation to be usedmalefemale
anata
(an-ta)
respectable
person
This you is most proper expression in any situation for both male and female. The pronunciation "an-ta" is a colloquial variation mostly used among well known people. The antonym or pair word is .standardstandard
kimimajestyThe original meaning is majesty meaning emperor. But later, the meaning was changed. Nowadays this word is used for equal partners and subordinates and is thought to be an expression of familiarity. The relation of "anata" and "kimi" resembles to the one between German Sie and Du. The antonym or pair word is .yesoften
anata
(an-ta)
respectable
woman
This is only used in writing.yesyes
anata
(an-ta)
respectable
male
This is only rarely used in writing.yesyes
kisamarespectable
Sir
The meaning is almost reverse the direct meaning. It is a rough expression of you used only between well known friend. Females never use this word. The antonym or pair word is .Quarrels oftne begin with this word.Probably there is a hidden meaning though no one mention it. "What Respectable Sir are you thinking you are?"yesnever
kikunrespectable
lord
This is only used in writing in case of equal partner.yesnever
kikohrespectable
lord
Originally samurai the warrior used it to his lord. But lately it is used among equal partners. And until some fifty years ago, students used this word.usednever
nanjiyouAn ancient word used to equal partners and subordinates in a royal court by noble people.yesyes
omae
ome-e
(respectable)
front
The meaning is You just in front of me. "o" sound at the top express politeness to superiors in older time but nowadays this meaning was lost and used to equal partners and subordinates. "omee" is a rude variation. The antonym or pair word is . A tight friendship is called as relation of "Ore" and "omae".yessometimes
no
character
omahanIa local tongue in Kansai. This is a polite expression of "omae".yesyes
no
character
waiI
(you)
a local tongue in Kansai area as rather vulgar expression. Strangely enough, this word is also used for you. You must discern the two meaning according to the situation.yesrarely
temae
(teme-e)
front
(you)
An old word used by merchant and craftsman. This word is also used for I (the guy in front of you) and you (the guy in front of me). "temee" is a rude variation.yesrarely
   There are many other variations in local tongues.

To German speakers, A German, Nora translated this page into German please take a look at it.

Here is the japanese words for I.