I don’t believe that I covered this topic in the past.  This is one of those basic grammar lesson, and it is very important to know. Today, let me cover the personal pronouns.

 

The major personal pronouns we use in Japanese are:

Watashi  (私、わたし)　- I

Anata (あなた) – You

Kare (彼、かれ) – He

Kanojo (彼女、かのじょ) – She

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In Japanese, “I” is “Watashi”. However, during our conversation, we often omit the word “watashi”.  This is true, especially in less formal conversation. I added the word, “watashi” below, but you can say it without the word

• Kyo, watashi wa market e ikimashita.  今日、私は、マーケットへ　行きました。(きょう、わたしは　マーケットへ　いきました。) – I went to the market today.

 

Similar approach is applied to the word “You”, “Anata” in Japanese.

• Anata no ie wa doko desuka? – あなたの、家は何処ですか？　(あなたの　いえは　どこですか？) Where is your house (located) ?

This can be said ” Ie wa doko deuka?” without “Anata”

When using “He” , “She” or “Kare”, or “Kanojo”, we do add the pronouns in our sentences.

• Kare wa John san no oto-to desu. 彼は、ジョンさんの　弟　です。(かれは、ジョンさんの　おとうと　です。)- He is John’s brother.

 

•  Kanojo wa watashi no imo-to desu.　彼女は、私の　妹　です。 (かのじょは　わたしの　いもうと　です。)- She is my younger sister.

 

What if you want to make these pronouns plural. Let me show you how these pronouns change.

 

Watashi-tachi  (私たち、わたしたち)　- We

Anata-tachi (あなたたち) – You

Karera. Kare-tachi (彼ら、かれら、彼らたち、かれらたち)

Kanojora, Kanojo-tachi  (彼女ら、かのじょら、彼女たち、かのじょたち)

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When speaking in plural form, we often “add” the pronouns to make it clear that the subject is more than one person.

• Watashitachi wa ima kokoni kitatokorodesu. 私たちは、今　ここに　来たところです。(わたしたちは、いま　ここにきたところです。) – We just got here.

 

• Anatatachi wa nanjini ikuno desuka? あなたたちは、何時に行くのですか？(あなたたちは、なんじに　いくのですか？)-What time are you (guys) going?

 

• Karera wa sakka- chi-mu no hito tachidesu. 彼らは、サッカーチームの人たちです。(かれらは、サッカー　チームの　ひとたち　です。)- They are soccer team members.

 

• Kanojo tachi wa nihonjin desu. 彼女たちは、日本人です。(かのじょたちは、にほんじん　です。) -They are Japanese.

 

Any questions? Feel free to let me know in the comment section. I will do my best to answer them in a timely manner! Good luck! Ganbatte!