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:

私の同僚はとても優秀です。

Watashi no dōryō wa totemo yūshū desu

My colleagues are very good.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 同僚 - noun meaning "coworker" in Japanese
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 優秀 - adjective meaning "excellent" in Japanese
• です - linking verb that indicates the state or quality of the subject

私の健康は全快しています。

Watashi no kenkō wa zenkai shite imasu

My health is completely recovered.

My health is completely comfortable.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle indicating possession or a relationship between two things, equivalent to "de" in Portuguese
• 健康 - noun meaning "health" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the main theme or subject of the sentence, equivalent to "é" or "está" in Portuguese
• 全快 - noun meaning "complete recovery" in Japanese
• しています - compound verb indicating an action in progress, equivalent to "estou" or "está" in Portuguese

私の配偶者は私の最高の友人です。

Watashi no haigūsha wa watashi no saikō no yūjin desu

My spouse is my best friend.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 配偶者 - noun meaning "spouse" in Japanese
• は - particle indicating the theme or subject of the sentence
• 最高 - adjective meaning "better" or "superior" in Japanese
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 友人 - noun meaning "friend" in Japanese
• です - verb to be in the polite Japanese form

私の身体は健康です。

Watashi no karada wa kenkou desu

My body is healthy.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 身体 - noun meaning "body" in Japanese
• は - Topic marker that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "o corpo"
• 健康 - adjective meaning "health" or "healthy" in Japanese
• です - verb to be in the present, indicating "the body is healthy"

私の見解は異なります。

Watashi no kenkai wa kotonari masu

My vision is different.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "de" in English
• 見解 - noun that means "opinion" or "point of view"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about" in Portuguese
• 異なります - Verb that means "to be different" or "to disagree", conjugated in a polite form

私の手帳は毎日使います。

Watashi no techou wa mainichi tsukaimasu

I use my notebook daily.

I use my notebook every day.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "de" in English
• 手帳 - noun that means "agenda" or "notebook" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about" or "regarding" in Portuguese
• 毎日 - adverb that means "every day" in Japanese
• 使います - The verb that means "to use" in Japanese, conjugated in the present affirmative is "使います" (tsukaimasu).

私の額には汗が滲んでいる。

Watashi no hitai ni wa ase ga nijinde iru

My forehead is sweaty.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 額 - noun meaning "forehead" in Japanese
• に - particle indicating action or state of something in a specific place
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 汗 - noun meaning "sweat" in Japanese
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 滲んでいる - verb meaning "to be perspiring" or "to be sweating" in Japanese

私の知り合いはたくさんいます。

Watashi no shiriai wa takusan imasu

I have many acquaintances.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 知り合い - noun that means "acquaintance" or "friend"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• たくさん - adverb meaning "very" or "many"
• います - verb that means "to exist" or "to be present" (in this case, in the affirmative present form)

私の母校はとても素晴らしい学校です。

Watashi no bokou wa totemo subarashii gakkou desu

My primary school is a very good school.

My alma mater is a wonderful school.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 母校 - noun that means "school where one graduated"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my school"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 素晴らしい - adjective that means "wonderful"
• 学校 - noun meaning "school"
• です - verb that indicates the polite way of affirming or asking something, in this case, "is"

私は本棚を揃える必要がある。

Watashi wa hondana o sorae ru hitsuyō ga aru

I need to organize the bookcase.

I need to prepare book shelves.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, equivalent to "is" in Portuguese
• 本棚 - noun meaning "bookshelf" in Japanese
• を - object particle that indicates the direct object of the action, equivalent to "o" in Portuguese
• 揃える - verb that means "to tidy up" or "to organize" in Japanese
• 必要 - adjective that means "necessary" in Japanese
• が - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, equivalent to "que" in Portuguese
• ある - verb that means "to exist" in Japanese, used to indicate the existence of something