The Japanese for “You” Differs Depending on the Person You Are Addressing

The Other side of Japanese| 話す相手により異なる”You"の日本語

The Japanese for “You” Differs Depending on the Person You Are Addressing

It is not easy to translate “you” into Japanese. In English, “you” can be used to address a partner, a friend, a child, or even a thief. For instance, from simply reading the sentence “What are you doing here?” it’s impossible to guess who “you” refers to, nor the tone of the statement. As Japanese has a rich variety of vocabulary, the way you say “you” changes depending on your relation to the person you’re speaking to. In Japanese, there are several words for you; these include, anata, kimi, and omae. Furthermore, each respective word has a different nuance. The word “anata” can be used to address anybody, but it’s usually omitted and, it isn’t used much. If a woman uses it with a man, it implies that their relationship is an intimate one. The word “kimi” is used with one’s equals or subordinates. It is mainly used by men. Men use the word “omae” with subordinates or children, and can sometimes use insults like “kisama” or “temee” when they become angry. Besides these, there are casual terms like “annta.” “Otaku sama” is sometimes used with strangers. In Japanese, the word used for “you” is usually omitted in conversations between two people. In this way you can appreciate how Japanese vocabulary enriches the language making it stand out from any other in the world.

“You”を
you wo
you
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
ni
into
やくすのは
yakusu noha
to translate
簡単かんたん
kanntann
easy
ではありません。
deha arimasenn.
(it) is not
英語えいご
eigo
English
では
deha
in
恋人こいびとでも、
koibito demo,
(a) partner
友達ともだちでも、
tomodachi demo,
(a) friend
どもでも、
kodomo demo,
(a) child
泥棒どろぼう
dorobou
(a) thief
たいしても
ni taishitemo
(or) even
youと
you to
you
います。
iimasu.
can (be used) to address
たとえば、
tatoeba,
for instance
“What are you doing here?”という
What are you doing here? toiu
what are you doing here?
ぶん
bunn wo
(the) sentence
んだだけ
yonnda dake
simply reading
では、
deha,
from
youが
you ga
you
だれ
dare
who
し、
wo sashi,
refers to
どんな調子ちょうし
donna choushi de
(nor the) tone of (the) statement
っているのか
itteirunoka
[saying]
わかりません。
wakarimasenn.
(it)’s impossible to guess
語彙ごい
goi no
vocabulary
豊富ほうふ
houfu na
a rich variety of
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
では、
deha,
has as
youは
you ha
you
はな
hanasu
(you)’re speaking to
相手あいて
aite
(the) person
との
tono
to
関係かんけい
kannkei
(your) relation
de
depending on
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn ga
(the) way (you) say
わります。
kawarimasu.
changes
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
では、
deha,
in
you
you
you
には、
niha,
for
あなた、
anata,
(these include) anata
きみ
kimi,
kimi
まえ
omae
(and) omae
などが
nadoga
several words
あり、
ari,
there are
さらに、
sarani,
furthermore
それぞれの
sorezoreno
each respective
ことばには
kotoba niha
word
ことなる
kotonaru
different
ニュアンスにゅあんす
nyuannsu ga
(a) nuance
あります。
arimasu.
has
「あなた」は
anata ha
anata
だれにも
dare nimo
(to address) anybody
使つかえる
tsukaeru
can be used
言葉ことばです
kotoba desu
(the) word
が、
ga,
but
省略しょうりゃくされることが
shouryaku sareru kotoga
it’s omitted
おおく、
ooku,
usually and
あまり
amari
much
使つかわれません。
tsukaware masenn.
(it) isn’t used
女性じょせい
jyosei ga
(a) woman
男性だんせい
dannsei
(a) man
ni
with
使つか
tsukau
uses (it)
to
if
特別とくべつ関係かんけい
tokubetsu na kannkei wo
(that their) relationship is (an) intimate (one)
意味いみすることがおおいです。
imisuru kotoga ooi desu.
(it) implies [very much]
きみ」は
kimi ha
(the word) kimi
対等たいとう
taitou na
one’s equals
場合ばあい
baai,
with
また
mata
or
目下めしたひと
meshita no hito ni
subordinates
使つかいます。
tsukai masu.
is used
男性だんせい
dannsei ga
by men
使つかうことがおおいです。
tsukau koto ga ooi desu.
(it) is used mainly
男性だんせい
dannsei ga
men
使つか
tsukau
use
言葉ことばで、
kotoba de,
(the) word
目下めした
meshita
subordinates
ya
or
ども
kodomo
children
たいして
ni taishite
with
「おまえ」、
omae,
omae
また、
mata,
and
おこった
okotta
(they) become angry
ときに
tokini
when
相手あいて侮辱ぶじょくする
aite wo bujyoku suru
insults
ような
youna
like
貴様きさま
kisama
kisama
あるいは
arui ha
or
「てめぇ」を
temexe wo
temee
使つか
tsukau
can use
ことがあります。
kotoga arimasu.
sometimes
このほかでは、
kono hoka deha,
besides those
カジュアルかじゅある
kajuaru na
casual
かた
iikata no
terms
「あんた」が
annta ga
(like) annta
あります。
arimasu.
there are
見知みしらぬひと
mishiranu hito
strangers
には
niha
with
「お宅様たくさま」が
otakusama ga
otaku sama
使つかわれる
tsukawareru
is used
ことがあります。
kotoga arimasu.
sometimes
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
では、
deha,
in
二人ふたり
futari no
(between) two people
会話かいわ
kaiwa
conversations
では
deha
in
通常つうじょう
tuujyou
usually
youに
you ni
you
あたる
ataru
used for
言葉ことば
kodoba ha
(the) word
省略しょうりゃくされます。
shouryaku saremasu.
is omitted
このように
konoyouni
in this way
語彙ごい
goi no
vocabulary
豊富ほうふさが
houfusa ga
[abundant]
いかに
ikani
how
日本語にほんご
nihonngo wo
Japanese
世界せかいるいない、
sekai ni rui wo minai,
making (it) stand out from any other in (the) world
奥深おくぶか
okubukai
[deep]
言語げんご
genngo ni
(the) language
しているか
shiteiruka
enriches
わかるでしょう。
wakaru deshou.
(you) can appreciate

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