Grammar › Character speech · 01 I and you

拙者: I (samurai, humble)

Character speech · 01 I and you

Humble archaic "I" used by samurai and ninja in fiction.

拙 means clumsy, so the word is humble. Usually paired with 〜でござる. Used by retainers in period pieces; today it evokes samurai or ninja characters or comedy.

Examples

拙者せっしゃは旅たびの侍さむらいでござる。

I am a traveling samurai.

拙者せっしゃにお任まかせくだされ。

Please leave it to me.

Study 拙者 in the course →