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  • 2 days ago
Japanese learners often get surprised by the difference between textbook Japanese and real daily conversation. Here, the lesson explains why watashi and anata are not used the way many beginners expect, and what native speakers usually say instead.

The video breaks down how watashi can work for women in both formal and casual speech, while men may use watashi in formal situations but often switch to boku or ore in casual settings. It also explains that anata is correct in dictionaries and translation tools, but in real life Japanese speakers usually call the other person by name, especially with last name plus san in formal situations.

You’ll also hear when kun and chan are used with friends, and why anime-style words like kimi, omae, teme, and kisama should be handled carefully. This is a practical Japanese language lesson for beginners, self-study, and anyone trying to sound more natural in conversation.

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Transcript
00:00Hi everyone in the world!
00:02Yahoo!
00:02Mochi-sensei desu!
00:04Today, I want to teach you about
00:06I and you.
00:09In Google translation,
00:11I is watashi.
00:13You is anata.
00:15But in daily conversation,
00:17do we really use that?
00:19Hmm, let's see.
00:21So let's get started.
00:22Hajimeyo!
00:24So first, I want to explain about
00:26I, watashi.
00:28For watashi,
00:30female can use watashi
00:32in both formal and casual situation.
00:36Like, watashi wa mochi-sensei desu.
00:39But for male, it's different.
00:42In formal situation,
00:44male can also say watashi.
00:46But in casual situation,
00:48like talking to your friends
00:50or family or close people,
00:52you never say watashi
00:54if you are guy.
00:55Then how to say?
00:58Well, for guy, you say
01:01boku or ore.
01:04Boku or ore.
01:06And you can use whichever you want.
01:08Both are common.
01:10But I hear ore more than boku.
01:12So try to use these two instead of watashi.
01:20Next, I want to talk about you.
01:23And this is really important.
01:26So listen carefully.
01:27So you is anata.
01:30In the textbook, it says anata.
01:32In google translation, it says anata.
01:35And that is correct.
01:37But we never say that in daily conversation.
01:41Never ever.
01:42That's because Japanese always ask their name first.
01:48What is your name?
01:49Onamae nandesuka?
01:52Onamae nandesuka?
01:54Namae is name.
01:56And onamae is formal.
01:58You add o to make it formal.
02:00Onamae nandesuka?
02:03And to your friends,
02:04Namae nani?
02:06Namae nani?
02:08Namae nani?
02:09What?
02:09Namae nani?
02:10We ask their name first.
02:12So we always call their name instead of anata.
02:16Because if we say anata, that's kind of rude.
02:20If I say anata, that means I didn't remember their name.
02:23And which is really rude.
02:25And also in formal situation,
02:27Don't call their first name.
02:29Call their last name and add san.
02:32Like if their last name is Tanaka,
02:36Then you have to call them Tanaka-san.
02:40Which means Mr. Tanaka or Miss Tanaka.
02:43So when you want to ask Tanaka-san,
02:46Hey, what do you think?
02:47Tanaka-san,どう思いますか?
02:51Tanaka-san,どう思いますか?
02:54In casual situation,
02:57You don't have to say san after their name.
03:00You can use kun to a male.
03:04Or chan to a female.
03:06Like,
03:06Ichiro-kun, Hana-chan.
03:11Ichiro-kun, Hana-chan.
03:14Ichiro-kun, nani shiteru no?
03:18Hana-chan, nani shiteru no?
03:20If it's your friend, but not too close friend,
03:24Then it's better to say kun or chan.
03:28But if it's really close friend, like best friend,
03:31Then I will just call their name.
03:34And also in anime, there's a word
03:39Anata, kimi, omae, teme, and kisama.
03:50So this is just for anime.
03:53We don't use this in our daily life.
03:56And it is really rude.
03:58So be careful not to use it.
04:01Some girls are like,
04:02Hey, did you just call me omae?
04:05I have my name, not omae.
04:08Girls are scary.
04:09So be careful.
04:10Please call their name.
04:12Instead of anata or kimi or omae or teme or kisama.
04:17Okay?
04:17By the way, in man-to-man conversation, you can use omae.
04:22But teme and kisama are only used in anime.
04:27And girls don't say omae.
04:29So again, ai is watashi.
04:33And this watashi, female can use both formal and casual situation.
04:38But for male, formal situation, you can use watashi.
04:43But in casual situation, try to use boku or ore.
04:47And second, for you, don't use anata.
04:50Try to call their name.
04:53If the person is older than you, call their last name and add san.
04:58Like Tanaka-san.
04:59And if it's your friend, then you can call their first name with kun or chan.
05:05Or just their first name.
05:08So how was today's video?
05:12Please subscribe.
05:13I hope to see you guys in next video.
05:16Bye!
05:17またね!
05:19Woah!

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