Grammar › Character speech · 01 I and you

僕・俺・私: I: boku / ore / watashi

Character speech · 01 I and you

Three common words for "I" that differ in gender, formality and attitude.

私 (わたし) = neutral and polite, safe for everyone; 僕 (ぼく) = male, gentle or boyish; 俺 (おれ) = male, rough, only with close friends. Women also use あたし.

Examples

私わたしは毎日まいにち、電車でんしゃで会社かいしゃに通かよっています。

I commute to work by train every day.

俺おれは昨日きのう、友達ともだちと飲のみに行いった。

I went out drinking with friends yesterday.