Translation and Meaning of: 私 - atashi

If you are learning Japanese, you have probably already come across the word I You may wonder: why are there so many ways to say "I" in this language? This variation, mainly used by women, carries cultural and historical nuances that make it special. In this article, we will explore its etymology, the pictogram kanji, how it is used in daily life, and even tips for memorizing it. If you want to understand the origin of this expression or how to apply it in sentences to study in Anki, keep reading!

In the largest Japanese dictionary, Suki Nihongo, you will find details about writing, practical examples, and even curiosities that go beyond the basics. Here, we will uncover everything from the stroke order of kanji to the reason why あたし it's smoother than other first-person forms. Want to find out why this word is so popular and how to use it without sounding like an anime character? Let's go!

Etymology and Origin of 私 [あたし]

The word I there is an interesting story. Originally, the kanji 私 it was read as わたくし, a formal way to say "I". Over time, the pronunciation has changed in colloquial language, especially among women, until it reached the あたし what we know today. This evolution reflects the tendency of Japanese to shorten and soften expressions in everyday life.

The kanji itself is composed of the radical. ⽲ (rice ear) and ⼛ (particular), suggesting something personal or intimate. No wonder, あたし conveys a more delicate and informal feeling, different from わたし Please provide the text you'd like me to translate. ホクIf you've ever heard a female character in a dorama using this form, now you know why!

Use and Popularity in Modern Japanese

While わたし it is neutral and can be used by anyone in formal situations, あたし It is almost exclusively feminine and sounds more casual. You will hardly hear a man using this variation, unless he is playing a role or joking. In groups of friends or informal conversations, many women opt for it precisely because it conveys a more relaxed image.

It's worth noting that, although common, あたし is not the best choice in professional environments or when speaking with superiors. In these cases, the classic わたし still dominates. A tip? Pay attention to how the female characters in series and manga use this word — it's a great way to get the right context!

Tips for Memorizing and Applying

To solidify I, try associating it with everyday situations. Imagine a friend telling a story: "I watched a movie yesterday!" ("I watched a movie yesterday!"). The softer sound helps to differentiate it from other forms. Another strategy is to create flashcards on Anki with real examples, such as dialogues from doramas or J-pop songs that use this expression.

How about a pun you'll never forget? Think of "I'm not me." ("I am not 'watashi'"). Playing with the differences in pronunciations can be fun and effective. Finally, note: if you are a man, avoid using. あたし unless you are interpreting something — otherwise, it may sound strange to natives. Women, take advantage of the naturalness that this word brings!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• わたし (watashi) - I (neutral use, by a woman)
• 僕 (boku) - I (neutral use, usually by men)
• 俺 (ore) - I (informal, masculine)
• 自分 (jibun) - I (reflexive form)
• あたし (atashi) - I (informal, female use)
• うち (uchi) - I (feminine use, colloquial in some regions)
• わたくし (watakushi) - I (formal use)
• おれ (ore) - I (informal use, masculine, variant of 俺)
• おいら (oira) - I (informal use, often in contexts of friends or groups)
• わし (washi) - I (regional usage, typically by elderly men)
• あたい (atai) - I (female, informal, with a connotation of humility)
• あたくし (atakushi) - I (female, formal)
• じぶん (jibun) - I (reflexive form, like 自分)
• てまえ (temae) - I (a way to refer to oneself, usually in formal situations)
• うちら (uchira) - We (informal)
• がくせい (gakusei) - student
• がくしゃ (gakusha) - Scholar, researcher
• がくちょう (gakuchou) - Academic director
• がくれき (gakureki) - Academic transcript
• がくりょくしゃ (gakuryokusha) - Academic specialist
• がくぶ (gakubu) - University, academic department
• がくほう (gakuha) - Academic direction
• がくしゅう (gakushuu) - Learning, study
• がくしょく (gakushoku) - School meals, meals for students
• がくしょう (gakushou) - Academic recognition, award
• がくそう (gakusou) - Academic courses, study plans
• がくもん (gakumon) - Knowledge construction, academia
• がくせん (gakusen) - Education line, academic line

私

Romaji: atashi
Kana: あたし
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: I

Meaning in English: I (fem)

Definition: Someone who exposes themselves.

Example Sentences - (私) atashi

See below some example sentences:

月曜日は私の一番嫌いな曜日です。

Getsuyoubi wa watashi no ichiban kirai na youbi desu

Monday is my least favorite day of the week.

Monday is my most hated day.

• 月曜日 - means "Monday" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私の - "Meu" in Japanese
• 一番 - "the most" or "number one" in Japanese
• 嫌いな - "hated" or "disliked" in Japanese
• 曜日 - "day of the week" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese

木曜日は私の一番好きな曜日です。

Mokuyoubi wa watashi no ichiban suki na youbi desu

Thursday is my favorite day of the week.

• 木曜日 - Thursday" in Japanese
• は - Topic particle
• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• の - Possession particle
• 一番 - superlative "the most"
• 好き - adjective "like"
• な - adjective particle
• 曜日 - day of the week in Japanese
• です - verb "ser/estar" in the polite form

水曜日は私の一番好きな曜日です。

Suiyoubi wa watashi no ichiban suki na youbi desu

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week.

• 水曜日 - Wednesday
• は - Topic particle
• 私の - my
• 一番 - the best/number one
• 好きな - favorite
• 曜日 - Dia da semana
• です - Verb to be/estar

火曜日は私の一番好きな曜日です。

Kayoubi wa watashi no ichiban suki na youbi desu

Tuesday is my favorite day of the week.

• 火曜日 - Tuesday in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私の - mine in Japanese
• 一番 - number one in Japanese
• 好きな - favorite in Japanese
• 曜日 - day of the week in Japanese
• です - being in Japanese

煙る空気が私たちの目を刺激する。

Kemuru kuuki ga watashitachi no me wo shigeki suru

The smoky air stimulates our eyes.

• 煙る (kemuru) - verb that means "to be smoking, to be fogging"
• 空気 (kuuki) - noun that means "air"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 私たち (watashitachi) - pronoun that means "we"
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 目 (me) - noun that means "eyes"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 刺激する (shigeki suru) - verb that means "to stimulate, to irritate"

父は私のヒーローです。

Chichi wa watashi no hiiroo desu

My father is my hero.

• 父 (chichi) - dad
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私 (watashi) - I
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• ヒーロー (hiiroo) - hero
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

眺めることは私の好きな趣味です。

Nagameru koto wa watashi no sukina shumi desu

Observing is one of my favorite hobbies.

Watching is my favorite hobby.

• 眺めること - means "to observe" or "to contemplate", it is a verb in the form of a noun.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "眺めること" (observe/contemplate).
• 私の - 私 means "I" and "の" is a grammatical particle that indicates possession, so "私の" means "mine".
• 好きな - 好き means "to like" and "な" is a grammatical particle that indicates an adjective, so "好きな" means "tasty/pleasant".
• 趣味 - means "hobby" or "pastime", it is a noun.
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

神は私たちの側にいる。

Kami wa watashitachi no soba ni iru

God is in us.

• 神 - means "God" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私たち - personal pronoun meaning "we"
• の - Possession particle in Japanese
• 側 - noun meaning "side" or "near side"
• に - destination particle in Japanese
• いる - verb meaning "to be" or "to exist" in Japanese
• . - Period

神様は私たちを見守ってくれています。

Kamisama wa watashitachi o mimamotte kurete imasu

God is watching us.

• 神様 - God
• は - Topic particle
• 私たち - we
• を - direct object particle
• 見守ってくれています - is watching over us and taking care of us

私の心は深い谷に落ちる。

Watashi no kokoro wa fukai tani ni ochiru

My heart falls into a deep valley.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 心 - noun "heart"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 深い - adjective "deep"
• 谷 - noun "valley"
• に - location particle "in"
• 落ちる - verb "to fall"