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japanese · Self & Others · Lesson 7

Politely Not So

Making polite negative statements about people and their occupations. More pronouns.

At a formal networking event, you are mistaken for a doctor. You politely clarify that you are not a doctor but a company employee.

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わたくし watakushi

I / me (very polite)

Pronoun

A word that stands in for a name — like 私 (I/me), あなた (you), or 彼 (he/him).

わたくしは田中です。
watakushi wa tanaka desu. — I am Tanaka.
わたくしの名前は田中です。
watakushi no namae wa tanaka desu. — My name is Tanaka.
わたくしは会社員です。
watakushi wa kaishain desu. — I am a company employee.
僕 (ぼく) boku

I / me (male casual)

Pronoun

A word that stands in for a name — like 私 (I/me), あなた (you), or 彼 (he/him).

僕は学生です。
boku wa gakusei desu. — I am a student.
僕の名前はたけしです。
boku no namae wa takeshi desu. — My name is Takeshi.
僕は日本人です。
boku wa nihonjin desu. — I am Japanese.
彼 (かれ) kare

he / him

Pronoun

A word that stands in for a name — like 私 (I/me), あなた (you), or 彼 (he/him).

彼は大学生です。
kare wa daigakusei desu. — He is a university student.
彼はだれですか。
kare wa dare desu ka. — Who is he?
彼は日本人です。
kare wa nihonjin desu. — He is Japanese.