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:

私は子供を育てるのが好きです。

Watashi wa kodomo wo sodateru no ga suki desu

I like raising children.

I like to raise children.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that what follows refers to "me"
• 子供 (kodomo) - noun meaning "child"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "child" is the object of the action
• 育てる (sodateru) - verb meaning "to create", "to educate" or "to care for"
• のが (no ga) - particle indicating that the previous verb is the subject of the following sentence
• 好き (suki) - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

私は毎日香水をつけます。

Watashi wa mainichi kōsui o tsukemasu

I use perfume every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 香水 (kōsui) - noun meaning "perfume"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that the object is "perfume"
• つけます (tsukemasu) - verb meaning "put" or "apply", conjugated in the present affirmative

私は学校のクラスで班長を務めています。

Watashi wa gakkou no kurasu de hancho wo tsutomete imasu

I am the team leader in my school class.

I'm a group leader in the school class.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
• 学校 (gakkou) - noun meaning "school"
• の (no) - particle indicating ownership, i.e. "of the school"
• クラス (kurasu) - noun meaning "class", in the sense of a group of students
• で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action takes place, in this case, "in class"
• 班長 (hanchou) - noun meaning "group leader", in this case the class leader
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, i.e. "I am playing the role of group leader"
• 務めています (tsutometeimasu) - verb meaning "I am performing" or "I am exercising"

私は大学で日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa daigaku de nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu

I'm studying Japanese at the university.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
• 大学 (daigaku) - noun meaning "university"
• で (de) - particle that indicates the location where the action takes place, in this case, "at the university"
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "japanese" is the object of the action
• 勉強しています (benkyou shiteimasu) - verb meaning "to study" conjugated in the present continuous, indicating that the action is ongoing

私はその学会に参加したいです。

Watashi wa sono gakkai ni sanka shitai desu

I want to participate in that study group.

I want to attend the conference.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
• その (sono) - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
• 学会 (gakkai) - noun meaning "academic society" or "scientific association"
• に (ni) - particle indicating destination or target, indicating that the objective is to "participate" in the "academic society"
• 参加したい (sanka shitai) - "to want to participate"
• です (desu) - particle that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence, equivalent to "to be" or "to have" in English

私はアニメのファンです。

Watashi wa anime no fan desu

I'm an anime fan.

I'm an anime fan.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• アニメ (anime) - borrowed word from English that means "Japanese animation"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• ファン (fan) - borrowed word from English that means "fan"
• です (desu) - copulative verb that indicates state or quality

私はあなたより背が高いです。

Watashi wa anata yori se ga takai desu

I'm taller than you.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• あなた (anata) - personal pronoun meaning "you"
• より (yori) - particle that indicates comparison, in this case, "more than"
• 背 (se) - noun that means "height" or "stature"
• が (ga) - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 高い (takai) - adjective meaning "tall"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and courteous form of speech

私は毎朝公園で走る。

Watashi wa maiasa kōen de hashiru

I run every morning in the park.

I run in the park every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• 公園 (kouen) - noun that means "park"
• で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action takes place, in this case, "in the park"
• 走る (hashiru) - verb meaning "to run"

私は毎日飯を食べます。

Watashi wa mainichi meshi wo tabemasu

I like rice every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 飯 (meshi) - noun that means "food" or "meal"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "food"
• 食べます (tabemasu) - verb that means "to eat" in the affirmative present

私は彼女に仕えることを決めました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni tsukaeru koto o kimemashita

I decided to serve her.

I decided to serve it.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case, "for her"
• 仕える (tsukaeru) - The word is "serve" or "work for"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to serve"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "to serve"
• 決めました (kimemashita) - verb that means "decide" in the past, in this case, "I decided (to serve her)"