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:

私の父母はとても優しいです。

Watashi no chichibo wa totemo yasashii desu

My parents are very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - possession particle indicating that "father and mother" belong to "me"
• 父母 (fubo) - a word that means "father and mother" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle indicating that "father and mother" are the subject of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind" in Japanese
• です (desu) - being verb that indicates that "father and mother" are "very kind"

私の友人はとても親切です。

Watashi no yuujin wa totemo shinsetsu desu

My friend is very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - possession particle indicating that "friend" belongs to "me"
• 友人 (yuujin) - noun meaning "friend" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle indicating that "friend" is the subject of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 親切 (shinsetsu) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind" in Japanese
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative

私の銀行口座の残高は少ないです。

Watashi no ginkou kouza no zandaka wa sukunai desu

My bank account balance is low.

My bank account balance is small.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle indicating possession or relationship between two things.
• 銀行 (ginkou) - Noun that means "bank" in Japanese.
• 口座 (kouza) - Noun that means "account" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle indicating possession or relationship between two things.
• 残高 (zandaka) - Noun that means "balance" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "balance".
• 少ない (sukunai) - Adjective meaning "little" or "low" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - Auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or respectful way of speaking in Japanese.

私はその詳しい情報を持っていません。

Watashi wa sono kuwashii jōhō o motte imasen

I have no detailed information about it.

I don't have this detailed information.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• その (sono) - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that" or "those"
• 詳しい (kuwashii) - Adjective that means "detailed" or "thorough"
• 情報 (jouhou) - noun meaning "information" or "data"
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 持っていません (motteimasen) - Verb that means "do not have" or "do not possess", conjugated in the negative and polite form.

私のパンツは青いです。

Watashi no pantsu wa aoi desu

My panties are blue.

My pants are blue.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "de" in English
• パンツ (pantsu) - a word borrowed from English that means "pants" or "underwear" in Japanese
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about" in Portuguese
• 青い (aoi) - adjective meaning "blue" in Japanese
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of speech, equivalent to "ser" or "estar" in Portuguese

私の内心は複雑です。

Watashi no naishin wa fukuzatsu desu

My inner heart is complicated.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 内心 (naishin) - noun that means "inner feelings" or "intimate thoughts"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my inner feelings"
• 複雑 (fukuzatsu) - adjective meaning "complex" or "complicated"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal way of affirming something in Japanese

私の車は動くことができます。

Watashi no kuruma wa ugoku koto ga dekimasu

My car can move.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 車 (kuruma) - noun that means "car" in Japanese
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my car"
• 動く (ugoku) - verb meaning "to move" or "to work" in Japanese
• こと (koto) - Noun that means "thing" or "fact" in Japanese.
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "my car"
• できます (dekimasu) - verb meaning "can" or "is capable of" in Japanese

私の狙いは高い目標を達成することです。

Watashi no nerai wa takai mokuhyō o tassei suru koto desu

My goal is to achieve high goals.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 狙い (nerai) - noun meaning "goal" or "target"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 高い (takai) - adjective that means "high" or "elevated"
• 目標 (mokuhyou) - noun meaning "goal" or "objective"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 達成する (tassei suru) - compound verb meaning "to reach" or "to achieve"
• こと (koto) - noun indicating an abstract action or event
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私の兄はとても優しいです。

Watashi no ani wa totemo yasashii desu

My older brother is very kind.

My brother is very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun meaning "I" or "mine"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 兄 (ani) - noun that means "older brother"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of discourse

私はコーヒーをカップに入れる。

Watashi wa kōhī o kappu ni ireru

I put coffee in the cup.

I put coffee in a cup.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• コーヒー (kōhī) - コーヒー (kōhī)
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• カップ (kappu) - カップ
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination or location of the direct object
• 入れる (ireru) - The Japanese verb that means "to put" or "to place inside" is 入れる (ireru).