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Note that, even more so than in most forms of media, the language used in anime is heavily stylized and quite different from the way actual Japanese people speak in real life. Take everything you hear in anime with a grain of salt -- non-native speakers who learned their Japanese from anime are easy to spot.
See also: [[
== First-person pronouns ==
===''Atai'', ''Ashi''===
: 私 "I, a cute little girl." Contraction of ''atashi''; used only by young girls or, rarely, by very immature and informal women.
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===''Boku''===
: 僕 "I, a nonthreatening male".
* Utena, Dios, Miki and Saionji in ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]].'' Also Akio when in Chairman mode (he normally uses ''ore'').
** This is a good example of the different connotations ''boku'' can have. Utena's ''boku'' indicates her assertive and tomboyish persona; Dios and Miki use ''boku'' for the connotations of childlike innocence; Saionji uses it rather than a more aggressive pronoun because he feels he's always playing second fiddle; and when Akio uses ''boku'', it's out of false humility.
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* [[Phoenix Wright]]/ Naruhodou Ryuuichi from ''[[Ace Attorney]]'' uses this. It fits his easily flustered personality.
* [[Nietzsche Wannabe]] Legato Bluesummers in ''[[Trigun]]'' uses ''boku''.
* Stiyl Magnus of ''[[
* [[Blood Knight|Hibari]], [[Manipulative Bastard|Mukuro]] and [[Complete Monster|Byakuran]] from ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]'' are quite polite (Mukuro even uses [[Keigo]]!) but along the most dominant and abusive characters of the series. In the case of Mukuro and Byakuran, ''boku'' implies more of an [[Faux Affably Evil|false politeness]] than a genuine one, while in Hibari's case it reflects his strong attachment to rules (not that he's a nice guy, [[Jerk with a Heart of Jerk|anyway]]).
* In the Japanese dub for ''[[The Dark Knight Saga]]'', Bruce Wayne uses ''boku'' for his public persona as a [[Rich Idiot With No Day Job]]. As Batman he uses ''ore'', like most other characters.
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* Gian of ''[[Summon Night|Summon Night 4]]'' reverts to his childhood usage of ''boku'' from his usual ''watashi'' as part of his [[Villainous Breakdown]].
* The [[Bokukko]] Natsuki Koshimizu from ''[[Detective Conan]]''. It's one of the reasons why the other [[Amateur Sleuth|Amateur Sleuths]] think she's a boy aside of her [[Boyish Short Hair]] and [[Bifauxnen]] looks, [[Dropped a Bridget On Him|until they see her]] [[Joshikousei|in a sailor uniform.]] {{spoiler|After being revealed as the [[Sympathetic Murderer]], she switches to ''watashi'', probably because [[Broken Bird|her innocence is gone forever]].}}
* ''[[My Hero Academia]]'':
** Izuku Midoriya exclusively uses this pronoun, which goes in hand with his kindly, humble personality. It's even in the official Japanese title.
** Out of the others in his class, Aoyama uses it, as does Iida when he gets emotional (he normally uses "ore").
** As for more reprehensible users, we have [[Smug Snake|Neito Monoma]] and {{Spoiler|[[Big Bad|All For One]]}}.
* {{spoiler|The fake "fourth"}} Elan Ceres of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury]]'' uses boku as part of his emotionless, uncaring nature {{spoiler|by contrast, the far more assertive original Elan uses "ore"}}.
===''Chin''===
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* Happy, a flying cat from ''[[Fairy Tail]]''.
* The Flunkies, Mizer, and many bandits in ''[[Yggdra Union]]''.
* Deidara and Kankuro from ''[[Naruto]]''.
* Shimazu Yoshihiro and Itsuki from ''[[Sengoku Basara]]''. Interestingly, while Itsuki is a peasant, Yoshihiro is a daimyo (though he speaks with a heavy Kyushu accent).
* The peasants in ''[[Seven Samurai]]'', including the girl, Shino.
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* Alba from ''[[Summon Night]]'', fitting given that he grew up in a slum.
* Daichi from ''[[Beyblade]]''.
* In the official Japanese translation of ''[[Undertale]]'', Sans uses this, fittingly for a relaxed character. The reveal of this caused an stir in the Japanese fandom, given that they expected him to use either ''boku'' or ''ore'', which in a meta sense fits his [[Troll]]ish tendencies. {{spoiler|It's implied, however, that his ''oira'' use is a deliberate affectation to make himself look non-threatening; he switches to ''ore'' whenever he gets actually serious}}
===''Ore''===
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* [[Tomba|Ore! Tomba]]
* A female example, Prishe from ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' and ''[[Dissidia]]''.
* Touma of ''[[
* Female Chimaerans in ''[[Jyu-Oh-Sei]]'' tend to use ''ore'', most notably Tiz and Karim (in the manga - in the anime Karim uses ''watashi'').
* Kanba Takakura from ''[[Mawaru Penguindrum]]'', as the most aggressive and assertive Takakura sibling. OTOH, his twin Shouma uses ''boku'' and their little sister Himari uses ''watashi''.
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* Normally polite and aloof [[The White Prince|Yuki]] in ''[[Fruits Basket]]'', while [[If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...|giving Kyou a lecture]] at the beach, refers to himself as "ore-sama" just to annoy Kyou. It's notably a sign that Yuki is [[Defrosting Ice Queen|learning to loosen up]] as well as the shifting of his relationship with [[Hot-Blooded|Kyou]] toward [[Vitriolic Best Buds]].
* The title character of ''[[Kaiketsu Zorori]]''.
* [[Holier Than Thou|Fiamma of the Right]] from ''[[
* Lucifer in ''[[Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san]]'' uses ''ore'' most of the time, but sometimes adds -sama for added effect.
* Ban from ''[[GetBackers]]'' uses ''ore-sama'' sometimes, especially in the last volume of the manga.
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: 小生 Another archaic, self-deprecating form of "I" used by males with equals and subordinates. Nowadays it's rare but still used sometimes in letters and such.
* Kuroda Kanbe from ''[[Sengoku Basara]]'', who is in no way as humble as this pronoun implies.
* Devola and Popola from ''[[
* Tokitsu Junya, the "Detective of the North" in ''[[Detective Conan]]''. It's hinted lightly that he uses this as a way to make himself look humbler than he truly is. {{spoiler|And it's kind of a plot point, actually. See the character sheet to learn the reason why.}}
* Emilia Kishitani from ''[[Durarara!!]]'', a foreigner who speaks in broken Japanese and for some reason chooses ''this'' as her main pronoun.
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* Shizuru (who isn't, either) in ''[[My-HiME]]'' and ''[[Mai-Otome]]''.
* Haruka, who admittedly isn't an idiot, from [[Chu-Bra]].
* Kohran from ''[[Sakura Taisen]]'' uses it (as well as speaking [[Kansai Regional Accent|Kansai-ben]]), but is technically a [[Chinese Girl]].
* Hazel from ''[[Saiyuki]]'' Gunlock, mainly to emphasize that he's foreign. (Also not an idiot. Maybe.)
* Tayuya in ''[[Naruto]]''.
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* Hakumen in ''[[BlazBlue]]''.
* Lordgenome from ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'', post-[[Time Skip]]. Especially noticeable in ep. 22, when he's trying to remember what the {{spoiler|Moon}} is.
* Grimoire Weiss from ''[[
* Archtype-Earth, AKA our heroine [[Tsukihime|Arcueid]] before Shiki unintentionally turned her into an airhead, uses this. It is unknown if she goes back to using this after the events of Tsukihime because it is unknown if she reverts back to her old colder personality.
* [[The Dragon|Dynamis]] in ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''. It generally seems to be common among the members of Cosmo Entelecheia.
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* The infamous "Waga Shikabane wo Koe yo" tech from [[Sega]]'s ''Sangokushi Taisen'' games, one of the many [[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]] inspired Japanese game series. It reached [[Memetic Mutation]] levels when videos depicting it were paired with J-ROCK group Onmyouza's similarly named ''Waga Shikabane wo Koete yuke''. For the Japanese illiterate, the phrases translate to "Over My Dead Body".
* Used in Japanese translations of [[The Quran]].
* Sakura Kinomoto from ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'' uses this during transformation sequences (e.g. "真の姿を'''我'''の前に示せ" in episode 2). It's most likely used to create a feeling of divinity, and otherworldliness, between her and the other characters during transformations.
===''Washi''===
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* Kotengu in ''[[Harukanaru Toki no Naka de]]'' uses this; technically, being a tengu, he is probably [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]] or so, but he spends most of the time [[Sleep Mode Size|sealed]] in the form of a [[Small Annoying Creature]], so the pronoun seems a little out of place.
* Byakuroku and Daidai in ''[[Otome Youkai Zakuro]]'', to go with their anachronistic speech patterns.
* Hideyoshi Kinoshita in ''[[Baka Test]]'' does this all the time. Strange in the fact that he's the
* Lordgenome in ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'', pre-[[Time Skip]]. [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|Over a thousand years old yet looks like a middle-aged guy]] with a [[Bald of Evil]].
* Azazel in ''[[Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san]]'' as part of his [[Kansai Regional Accent]].
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* Escargon in ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]''. He always speaks with (almost exaggerated) politeness, no matter the tone he's speaking with.
* Cecilia Alcott in ''[[Infinite Stratos]]''.
* Kuroko in ''[[
** Strangely enough, Touma also uses this, but only when he's self-deprecating.
* Ruri Hadou, the head of the Hadou Financial Group, in ''[[Deus Machina Demonbane]]''.
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* Aya in ''[[Weiss Kreuz]] Gluhen'' switches from ''ore'' to ''watashi'' as part of his cover as a history teacher at Koua Academy.
* Rika in ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'', who normally uses ''boku'', switches to this {{spoiler|when she's in Frederica Bernkastel mode. Incidentally [[Expy|Bernkastel]] in ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]'' always uses this}}. Hmmmm...
* All Might from ''[[My Hero Academia]]'' always uses this pronoun. "Watashi ga kita!"
===''Yo''===
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===''Anta''===
: あんた The
* Asuka from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' uses this in her infamous ''ANTA BAKA?!'' ("Are you stupid?") catchphrase.
* Detective Gumshoe/Itonokogiri Keisuke from the ''[[Ace Attorney]]'' series has a habit of saying "Anta", pal.
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* Kagura from ''[[Inuyasha]]'', being her rebellious, respectless self has no qualms adressing ''everyone'' like this, including her very creator and high-ranking demon nobility like Sesshomaru.
* Kaname in ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]'' tends to use ''anta'' on Sousuke and her friends when she's irritated.
* Mikoto in ''[[
* Reaker towards Montblanc in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' mission ''[[Prank Date|Moogle Bride]]''.
* The outgoing Maeda Keiji from ''[[Sengoku Basara]]''. Also Date Masamune and Chousokabe Motochika, in whose case it denotes light respect (as this is the closest they'll ever get to ''anata'').
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===''Kisama''===
: 貴様
* Natsuki of ''[[My-HiME]]'' and ''[[Mai-Otome]]'' is not known for being especially polite, but when she's especially angry with someone, such as Nao, she tends to use this pronoun.
* Alastor in ''[[Shakugan no Shana]]'' will unfailingly use 'kisama' when addressing Yuji, despite the level of familiarity the torch has with both him and his champion. This is not so much a calculated insult as the fact that the Crimson King considers humans to be literally beneath his notice -- Yuji is the only human Alastor will use pronouns to (or mention at all) when addressing directly. Alternatively, he could just be extremely old-fashioned and is unaware that it's a rude form of address in modern Japan.
* Rozalin spends the first half of ''[[Disgaea]] 2'' addressing Adell in this manner. She switches to 'onushi' when he ends up [[Taking the Bullet]] for her.
* This is by far the most common form of address for villains in ''[[Fist of the North Star]]''.
* Tatewaki Kunou of ''[[Ranma ½]]'' uses this in both its archaically formal form (for Akane), and in its insulting form (for Ranma).
* Issei and Shirou of ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' are close friends, and Issei usually uses ''omae'' with him. He briefly switches to ''kisama'' - understandable, as Shirou has just [[Not What It Looks Like|ordered him to strip]]. Another notable instance: {{spoiler|Berserker}} is surprisingly calm on the one occasion when he speaks, but he still uses ''kisama'' for Saber, his enemy.
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* In ''[[Koumajou Densetsu]] II'', [[Ninja Maid|Sakuya Izayoi]], utterly fed up with [[Troll|Yukari]]'s treatment of her mistress, addresses her in this manner during their final confrontation.
* Domon Kasshu of ''[[G Gundam]]'' tends to use this one a lot regardless of his mood or the social standing of the person he's talking to (prime ministers, for instance).
* in ''[[My Hero Academia]]'', {{spoiler|All For One}} is the only character whom the normally polite All Might refers to with "kisama". This speaks volumes about how reprehensible the former is.
===''Nanji''===
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===''Onore''===
: 己 An
* Elizabeth in ''[[Maburaho]]'' uses this when she is angry.
* Same goes for Tomo in ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]''.
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===''Temē''===
: てめえ A ''very''
* Ranma from ''[[Ranma ½]]'' uses this frequently.
* So does Tasuki from ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]].''
* Video game example: I-no in ''[[Guilty Gear]] XX'' has absolutely no respect for other people, and thus addresses everyone this way.
* Ex-gangster Hanamichi Sakuragi from ''[[Slam Dunk]]'' (who uses ''ore'' as his personal pronoun) usually refers to other ''males'' that way, indicating his turbulent past. On the other hand, he reverts to a much more polite speech when talking to women.
* Found very frequently in the mouth of ''[[Digimon Savers]]''{{'}} Masaru Daimon.
* Katsuya Jonouchi generally referred to anyone he had a slight problem with as "temē" in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]''.
* In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]]'', Kyosuke Kiryu/Kalin Kessler uses this while a Dark Signer. "Temē no turn da!"
* Anise of ''[[Tales of the Abyss]]'' uses this several times. (In which it's funny that in battle, she only says it if Luke and Jade are out of the party.)
* Hisui of ''[[Tales of Hearts]]'' uses it for ''everyone''. People who he warms up to, including the main character, graduate to ''omae'', and that's as polite as he gets.
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* Kyo Kusanagi from ''[[King of Fighters]]'' uses this when speaking with Iori Yagami. When speaking with Ash Crimson, this gets elevated into a yell.
* Ichigo of ''[[Bleach]]'' frequently uses this. Then again, he talks like a delinquent anyway. Grimmjow uses it for pretty much everyone.
* Rare female example? Patti Thompson from ''[[Soul Eater
* Katakura Kojuro from ''[[Sengoku Basara]]'' when talking to his underlings. And anyone he dislikes really.
** Tachibana Muneshige uses ''temae'' to refer to himself in a humble manner.
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* Uruka of ''[[Eien No Eselia]]'' refers to herself with ''temae.''
* Schwartz, the second generation protagonist of ''[[Agarest Senki 2]]'', does this to ''everyone.''
* Routinely used by Touma from ''[[
* Nena's Haro in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'' addresses Lockon's Haro with this on the only occasion when they meet in person. He probably learned it from [[Ax Crazy|Nena's older brother Michael]].
** [[Crowning Moment of Funny|"Who the Hell are you? Who the Hell are you?!"]]
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* Don Kanonji in ''[[Bleach]]''.
* Real Life Example. Johnny Kitagawa, the president of Johnny and Associates, uses you so much that it's both trademark, and will grab the attention of ALL of his talents in the room no mater which one he's talking to. In fact, the only person he doesn't call you is, fittingly enough, actually named You.
* A semi-example in ''[[Ever 17]]'': Tanaka [[Overly Long Name|Yuubiseiharukana]] prefers to shorten her name to "Yuu"/"[[Who's on First?|You]]", and everyone addresses her as that. She even lampshades it in her introduction: "[[
* Cowboy Andy from ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' uses this constantly. He still uses japanese pronouns for himself (most commonly "watashi"), but this is the only pronoun he uses for other people.
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===''-tachi''===
: 達 A suffix used to denote a group that includes the person referred to. [Name]''-tachi'' translates loosely to "[Name] and one or more others"; most singular pronouns can get this suffix attached for a similar effect. When appended to nouns the result can be interpreted as a collective term: "X-tachi" is roughly equivalent to "All the X".
* In one ''[[Minami-ke]]'' episode, Haruka refers to Chiaki and the others with her as "Chiaki-tachi".
* Used in ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' in the instances where the catchphrase is said by a group. It becomes "Ore-tachi wo dare da to omotte yagaru?!" or "Who the hell do you think we are?!"
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* In ''[[Super Robot Wars EX]]'', at least one of the Puru sisters say "Funnel-tachi" when using a Funnel attack.
* In ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'' the SOS Brigade is referred by "Haru-tachi". The "Haru" can mean either Haruhi or [[Sixth Ranger|Haruka]] depending on the context.
* Not only should you know who [[
* In ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'', Keiichi, Rika, Shion, and the others in the game club often refer to themselves as [[True Companions|nakama-tachi]].
* "Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan", the original theme song to ''[[Sakura Wars]]'', is usually sung by one or more members of the Hanagumi about themselves; depending on the version and the character singing, the lyrics refer to the members of their troop as "watashi-tachi" or "watakushi-tachi".
===''Wareware''===
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