TODAY’S WORD
わたし
watashi
3 beats: wa-ta-shi
わたし watashi = I ＋ わたしたち watashitachi = we
“I” — one of many ways to say it
In English, there is only one word for yourself: I. In Japanese, you choose.
At a job interview, people say わたし (watashi). A boy with his friends may say ぼく (boku). A man joking with close friends may say おれ (ore). The one you can use anywhere, with anyone, is わたし.
Introduce yourself with わたし.
Read & Say | わたし
わたし has 3 beats. In Japanese, each beat takes the same length of time.
- わ (wa): like “wa” in “wasabi.” Keep the lips relaxed, not pushed forward.
- し (shi): close to English “she,” but shorter. The final “i” is often very weak: “wa-ta-sh(i).”
How many ways can you say “I”?
Think first: In your language, do you call yourself the same way with your boss, your friends and your family?
わたし, ぼく, おれ
| Word | Who says it, when |
|---|---|
| わたし watashi | Anyone, anywhere. The safe choice. |
| わたくし watakushi | Very formal: speeches, business. |
| ぼく boku | Boys and men, friendly and soft. |
| おれ ore | Men, very casual. Only with people you are close to (friends, family). |
| わたしたち watashitachi | We. |
Japanese often drops “I” completely when it is clear who is speaking. But when you introduce yourself, わたしは〜です (watashi wa … desu, “I am …”) is the natural start.
はじめまして。わたしは アナです。
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Ana desu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Ana.
わたし in a conversation
Aはじめまして。わたしは アナです。
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Ana desu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Ana.
Bはじめまして。ぼくは ケンです。
Hajimemashite. Boku wa Ken desu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Ken.
Aよろしくお願いします。
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Pleased to meet you.
Quiz | わたし
Q1. How many beats are in わたし?
Answer
b) 3 — わ・た・し.
Q2. You are at a job interview. Which word for “I” do you use?
Answer
b) わたし. おれ is only for people you are close to.
Q3. How do you say “we”?
Answer
わたしたち (watashitachi).
Where does the わ in わたし come from?
FROM HIRAGANA TIMES
The November 2026 issue of Hiragana Times, a bilingual magazine published in Japan since 1986, listens to the sound わ (wa) in its “Nihongo Do — Voice Wave” page. It links わたし to an old name for Japan. The views below are the magazine’s.
かつて、日本は「倭国」と呼ばれていました。
Katsute, Nihon wa “Wakoku” to yobarete imashita.
Japan was once called “Wakoku.”
一方、日本語には「わ」という音がよく登場します。
Ippō, Nihongo ni wa “wa” to iu oto ga yoku tōjō shimasu.
Meanwhile, the sound “wa” appears often in Japanese.
「わたし」「われわれ」「わが国」「わが輩」。昔は、相手のことも「われ」と呼びました。
“Watashi,” “wareware,” “waga kuni,” “wagahai.” Mukashi wa, aite no koto mo “ware” to yobimashita.
“Watashi,” “wareware,” “waga kuni,” “wagahai.” In the old days, the other person was also called “ware.”
日本語の「わたし」には、「相手に渡す」「譲る」という謙虚さが重なります。
Nihongo no “watashi” ni wa, “aite ni watasu” “yuzuru” to iu kenkyo-sa ga kasanarimasu.
In the Japanese “watashi,” the humility of “passing to the other person” and “yielding” overlaps.
So the next time you say わたし, you are saying the same “wa” that once named Japan.
Your Voice | Introduce yourself with わたし
はじめまして。わたしは ＿＿ です。
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa ＿＿ desu.
Nice to meet you. I’m ＿＿.
- Start with はじめまして。
- Say your name with わたしは〜です。
- Add よろしくお願いします。 Read it aloud, then say it without looking.
はじめまして。わたしは アナです。日本語を勉強しています。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Ana desu. Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Ana. I’m studying Japanese. Pleased to meet you.
Write your answer in the comments below — a We coach will reply.
Speak Your Language | Make わたし yours
Practice is not the goal. The goal is to make わたし your own word — and say what you really feel, in Japanese.
A new language gives you a new way to see the world, and a new self. Other lessons stop at “watashi = I.” We show why Japanese has so many ways to say “I” — and which one is yours. That’s We.
Speak Your Language.
Read the full article in Hiragana Times →
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