What is a formal way of saying you in Japanese?
And by more natural, I mean it sounds like you actually know who Tanaka-san is. Take note that this is totally acceptable in formal conversation (look, I even used desu!), but you can also use names in casual conversation.
Watashi wa genki desu. I'm fine.
In this case, it's similar to “my darling” and “my sweetie” in English. You might have heard “omae” which also means “you”. Husbands tend to use “omae” when they're talking to their wives instead of “anata”. Also, “omae” is often used by men when they are talking to their close friend.
Genki desu ka means “how are you?” or “are you well?” in English. Genki desu ka is used to ask the situation or news from the other person. Both genki desu ka or ogenki desu ka are usually used when you meet people you haven't seen in a long time. However, ogenki desu ka is more formal.
“genki desu ka” is more polite than ”genki?” and is used by people in higher positions to people in lower positions. For example, teachers to students and superiors to subordinates. “genki?” is the most casual and is used among friends.
Yes, "anata" is a term of endearment in Japanese that can be translated to "darling" or "sweetheart."
When addressing someone you should suffix that person's surname with the term 'san'. So, if you're speaking to Mr Sato, then the correct way to address him would be as Sato-san. If you're speaking to Mrs Sato, then she too should be addressed as Sato-san.
This is the standard way to say “sorry” in Japanese, and you can use it in most situations. ごめんなさい (gomen nasai) is the polite way to say “I'm sorry,” but you can make it more casual, too. Switching it to ごめん (gomen, masculine) or ごめんね (gomen ne, feminine) makes it more casual and lighthearted for minor issues.
In OGENKI DESU KA (Are you fine?), OGENKI is an adjective GENKI (fine, healthy) with an honorific O before it. If you answer, “Yes, I'm fine,” you say HAI, GENKI DESU.
When someone asks you if you are genki – you can simply say – “genki desu.” – In English, the equivalent would be something like. “How are you?” – “I'm Good.”
What does Genki Kai mean?
how are you. More meanings for 元気かい (Genki kai) how you doing.
Generally speaking, "anata" is a neutral way of saying "you" while "kimi" is a very casual and rather boyish way of saying it.

So, if you were to use “anata“ while knowing your counterpart's name, you would give a cold impression. It can be taken this way as rude!
君 (kimi): used by men toward people of lower status. Typically not rude. (not inherently formal/informal, but makes the status hierarchy explicit, and is therefore better suited to formal situations)
Japanese men use those three words depending on who they are speaking to and the situation. When meeting someone for the first time, you should use “watashi”. And when you have become somewhat close to them, you can use “boku”. Then when you have become very close to them, you can use “ore.”
Desu is a polite way of saying to be in Japanese. Very often, desu appears at the end of a sentence (e.g., Kono inu wa kawaii desu or “The dog is cute”).
For example kids in high school would use this when talking with friends. Where as boku is the midle formality and the most common "I" for men, in day to day use. There is also a higher level, that being watashi, which is more formal and mostly used by women, or in a situation with requires respect.
In Japan, there is always a clear understanding whether you're in a formal situation or a casual one. While “Hajimemashite” is reserved for casual situations, “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu” is of the formal variety.
When someone asks you DAIJOBU DESU KA?, you can reply DAIJOBU DESU. That will let the person know you're OK. Some Japanese restaurants expect you to take off your shoes when you go in, but others don't. If you're not sure what to do, just say "Shoes, DAIJOBU DESU KA?" The answer will come straight away!
大丈夫 です– Daijoubu(Daijobu) desu(It's okay!) [ Informal]
Even when adding a “desu” at the end, “Daijoubu(Daijobu)” is a more casual word. It's better to use different words in more formal situations, and we'll talk about those soon. This all seems straightforward enough, so why is “Daijoubu(Daijobu)” tricky to use?
What does Mitsuru mean?
What is the meaning of the name Mitsuru? The name Mitsuru is primarily a male name of Japanese origin that means Fullness.
Wakarimashita / wakatta
Wakarimashita (分かりました / わかりました) is one of the best ways to say okay in Japanese.
Anata means 'you' in Japanese. Pretty sure you've heard that it is considered rude to use it with people you are not close with. That is not the case between couples, though! Though this is more common among older generations, anata is a common term of endearment for wives to call their husbands.
Japanese does not really use terms of endearment like in English (honey, babe etc). The most common way for Japanese guys to call their girlfriend is simply to use their first name, either by itself or with the suffix -chan.
In Japanese, "~ san (~さん)" is a title of respect added to a name. It can be used with both male and female names, and with either surnames or given names. It can also be attached to the name of occupations and titles.
But that's not all. Unlike many western cultures, in Japan people generally don't call one-another by their first name. Doing so can be a mark of disrespect, unless you're very close to the other person and in the right sort of casual environment, so you've read. Mental note then: first names are best avoided.
ごめんなさい。
If you're unsure about how to say sorry in Japanese, gomen nasai is your best choice. It is acceptable in both formal and informal situations. If you're saying sorry casually, you can shorten gomen nasai to gomen ne or even to gomen. This has a friendly nuance to it, so only use it with your friends and peers.
"Sumimasen" is a little more formal than "Gomennasai." When you apologize to the higher or the senior, "Sumimasen" is used in general. Among the family members or close friends, it is common to use "Gomennasai." "Gomen ne" or "Gomen" can be used in a more casual case.
元気(げんき) lively, full of spirit, energetic, vigorous, vital, spirited, healthy, fit, the basic energy of the universe that flows through everything. O genki desu ka? Hai, genki desu. When you begin learning Japanese, one of the first words you run into is genki (元気).
“Shinsen” means “fresh” and “de” is used to indicate that you're talking about the reason for something. So “shinsen de oishii desu” means “It is tasty because it is fresh”.
What does okage sama de mean?
[00:00:00.00] [MUSIC PLAYING] [00:00:07.08] - There's an old saying in Japan, and the phrase is okage sama de, which means I am what I am because of you.
"nan desu ka". This phrase means: "What is it?" or "What do you want?"
15. "Nandayo!" = Bloody hell! 16. "Damare." = Shut up.
Eh is used in writing to represent a noise that people make as a response in conversation, for example to express agreement or to ask for something to be explained or repeated. (同意して,説明を求めて)えっ!でしょう?
Shukai (主解, Mastered Release) is the third and final upgraded form of the Zanpakutō. It is the form of the Zanpakutō that displays both the Shinigami and the Zanpakutō's true form and power.
Using [totemo], "very" Place the word [totemo] in front of any adjective you want to emphasize: Oishii desu. [It's] delicious. Totemo oishii desu.
daijoubu desu ka? = are you alright?, are you okay? ( you are asking someone)
Pronoun choice depends on the speaker's social status (as compared to the listener's) as well as the sentence's subjects and objects. The first-person pronouns (e.g., watashi, 私) and second-person pronouns (e.g., anata, 貴方) are used in formal contexts (however the latter can be considered rude).
The word temee てめぇ, also written with kanji as temee 手前, is essentially a very rude way of saying "you." It's way more rude than saying omae.
Noun. onore m (plural onori) honour/honor (all senses) reputation. credit (merit)
Is using Omae rude?
It's generally a very rude and aggressive way to say "you" to your enemies.
”お前(omae)” is usually used by male, but sometimes it's used by female too, like you watched it in anime. お前 is an informal way of saying "you" but it doesn't always mean the speaker is violent.
Chan in Japanese
In reality, -ちゃん (-chan) is for anything cute. That means you'll usually attach -ちゃん to girls names, young boys, babies, and even sometimes pets! But that's not all – you'll hear it used with celebrity names, boyfriends, girlfriends, close friends, siblings, grandparents…
あんた — Anta
This is a contracted version of あなた, and as such, is less formal. Written in kana as あんた, it is typically regarded as a rude and rough way to address the listener, expressing the anger or disrespect of the speaker. This pronoun is not used in polite conversation.
Kimi no Te (きみのて; Your Hand) (Words - Kaori Mochida / music - HIKARI)
The Feminine Pronoun: 私 (あたし) — Atashi
Although watashi is accepting of everyone, the pronoun atashi is primarily used by women. Japanese doesn't have helpful articles like the Spanish “el” or “la,” which can make learning about pronouns a little tricky. The vast majority of those using atashi are women.
Now, these 2 words are considered rude in most situations. Anata is the all-purpose “you”. You can address almost anyone as anata, though typically you should call them [Name]-san if you know their name. Kimi is more familiar and informal, suitable for using with subordinates/juniors.
“Anata あなた (You)” is a great word to use when addressing a stranger. It's a pretty formal way to address someone, but it also puts that emotional distance of “I don't really know you” between you and the person you're addressing.
だ | Da | Informal |
---|---|---|
です | Desu | Formal |
でございます | De gozai masu | Most formal (Keigo) |
Anata (あなた) is the Japanese word for "you". Anata may refer to: Anata, a Japanese language second-person pronoun, sometimes used by married couples to refer to their partners.
Is Watashi wa formal?
In formal or polite contexts, “watashi” is gender neutral. However, when it's used in informal or casual contexts, it is usually perceived as feminine. “Boku” is used by men and young boys.
If you're planning to visit Japan soon and want to sound like a local, you should learn the meaning of the word "Umai". Simply translated as "delicious", there are actually a few nuances to this word. In this article we'll explore where it comes from, and teach you how to use it in Japanese conversation!
Let's start by looking at the most basic word for “no.” In Japanese, the polite way to say “no” is “いいえ (Iie).” Regardless, いいえ (Iie) is still rarely used as a way to refuse, even in formal situations. It is the most straightforward, blunt way of doing it, while the casual way of saying “no” is いや (iya).
Japanese term or phrase: nan desu ka? English translation: What is it?
Arimasen is a Japanese word that has multiple meanings, the most common of which is "I don't have (it)." It can also mean "there isn't" or "aren't any," as in "There aren't any good restaurants around here."
Unfortunately for younger audiences, the movie has earned its R rating, primarily due to a (largely unnecessary) sex scene and a heaping amount of profanity. I say unfortunately, because without those issues, this would comfortably be a PG-13, despite the brief bloody violence.
Kimi wa 008 (君は008, lit. "You Are 008") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Syun Matsuena. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday since February 2018, with its chapters collected in 25 tankōbon volumes as of May 2023. Kimi wa 008.