Japanese kanji 私: I; me

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 私 (わたし) and 私立 (しりつ). 私 has 7 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Examples

• 私わたしたちはこれから出でかけます。We are going out now.
• 私わたしたちの家いえは駅えきの近ちかくです。Our house is near the station.
• 私立しりつの学校がっこうに通かよっています。I attend a private school.
• あの私立しりつの大学だいがくは大おおきいです。That private university is large.
• 私わたしは田中たなかと申もうします。My name is Tanaka.
• それは私わたしの傘かさです。That is my umbrella.

Watch out

私 (わたし) means I; me; 私立 (しりつ) means private (school, institution). Learn the reading with the whole word. 私 is commonly わたし; わたくし is more formal. The subject is often omitted when clear from context. Compare the indicated parts of 私 and 和: 厶 and 口.

Try it yourself

1. Write the usual everyday reading of 私 in hiragana.

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   わたし

   私 is read わたし and means I; me. Remember the reading of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 私立 in hiragana.

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   しりつ

   私立 is read しりつ and means private (school, institution). Remember the reading of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿たち（わたしたち）.

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   私

   私 completes 私たち, read わたしたち; the completed word means we; us.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 私 from memory, and read 私 and 私立 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.