わたし
私
This is the first thing you learn as a Japanese learner. This is also the most common and safest way to say for any situation, any age and gender group.
ぼく
僕
This is normally used for younger male. You can use it in formal situation if you are a boy or a young adult.
わたくし
私
“watakushi” is a super formal term. You hear often in a business situation; you use them all the time if you work in sales and when you need to talk to customers. You also use this to be a bit fancy.
あたし
Mostly female uses this word, and it is used in casual situations. However, it is less common to use in writing even as it does not sound smart somehow. But when people talk, they sounds more “a” than “wa” when they say “watashi/atashi.” in informal scenes. Yet, you see them often in poems (modern) or lyrics written as “atashi.”
おれ (オレ)
俺
This is mainly for male in casual form. Between friends, family members, you normally use “ore” if you are a guy. Normally people start using “ore” around the time they become a teenager.
わし
You hear this a lot in stories, fairly tale, but you still hear some people call themselves “washi” today.
You also see some older people especially in some rural areas using it. This term originally includes ” the respect, proud” to themselves.
うち
This is one of the most common ones used in informal situations besides “ore” “watashi” “boku” today. This has been commonly used especially in west for both genders.
わて
This is used in Kinki region.
わい
This is used in Kinki, Tohoku rigion.
おいら
You hear this sometimes when people are trying to sound kind of “cute” but not “cool” in a way. You see sometimes in comment on the internet today.
しょうせい
小生
This is for men and is used to make yourself be modest. ( lower yourself ) However, this is used when you are talking/ writing to people who are considered to be socially in a lower level.
Old terms
わがはい
吾輩
This was used to be a little bit arrogant because it shows the respect to themselves. The most famous phrase using “wagahai” is a novel called “wagahai wa neko de aru” (吾輩は猫である) by Soseki Natsume. （夏目漱石）Oh, He is on the 1,000 yen note.
ちん
朕
This is for emperors. If you watch historical dramas, you will hear this. This term was originally used in ancient china.
せっしゃ
拙者
You will hear this a lot when you watch “samurai” dramas and movies. This was used among “Bushi” (samurai class, male). This word implies this: “I am not that important person” So by saying this, you showed your modesty.
それがし
某
This was commonly used during Sengoku to Edo period. (around 1500 – 1900) You hear it a lot in samurai movies.
This word implies this : “I am just someone who isn’t worth knowing the name. So I don’t give you my name.” This term also shows their own modesty, and was also used among “bushi.”
よ
余
わたし
私
This is the first thing you learn as a Japanese learner. This is also the most common and safest way to say for any situation, any age and gender group.
ぼく
僕
This is normally used for younger male. You can use it in formal situation if you are a boy or a young adult.
わたくし
私
“watakushi” is a super formal term. You hear often in a business situation; you use them all the time if you work in sales and when you need to talk to customers. You also use this to be a bit fancy.
あたし
Mostly female uses this word, and it is used in casual situations. However, it is less common to use in writing even as it does not sound smart somehow. But when people talk, they sounds more “a” than “wa” when they say “watashi/atashi.” in informal scenes. Yet, you see them often in poems (modern) or lyrics written as “atashi.”
おれ (オレ)
俺
This is mainly for male in casual form. Between friends, family members, you normally use “ore” if you are a guy. Normally people start using “ore” around the time they become a teenager.
わし
You hear this a lot in stories, fairly tale, but you still hear some people call themselves “washi” today.
You also see some older people especially in some rural areas using it. This term originally includes ” the respect, proud” to themselves.
うち
This is one of the most common ones used in informal situations besides “ore” “watashi” “boku” today. This has been commonly used especially in west for both genders.
わて
This is used in Kinki region.
わい
This is used in Kinki, Tohoku rigion.
おいら
You hear this sometimes when people are trying to sound kind of “cute” but not “cool” in a way. You see sometimes in comment on the internet today.
しょうせい
小生
This is for men and is used to make yourself be modest. ( lower yourself ) However, this is used when you are talking/ writing to people who are considered to be socially in a lower level.
Old terms
わがはい
吾輩
This was used to be a little bit arrogant because it shows the respect to themselves. The most famous phrase using “wagahai” is a novel called “wagahai wa neko de aru” (吾輩は猫である) by Soseki Natsume. （夏目漱石）Oh, He is on the 1,000 yen note.
ちん
朕
This is for emperors. If you watch historical dramas, you will hear this. This term was originally used in ancient china.
せっしゃ
拙者
You will hear this a lot when you watch “samurai” dramas and movies. This was used among “Bushi” (samurai class, male). This word implies this: “I am not that important person” So by saying this, you showed your modesty.
それがし
某
This was commonly used during Sengoku to Edo period. (around 1500 – 1900) You hear it a lot in samurai movies.
This word implies this : “I am just someone who isn’t worth knowing the name. So I don’t give you my name.” This term also shows their own modesty, and was also used among “bushi.”
よ
余
This is people for upper class (Like Barons) in ancient times. People started using this term at around Heian period (794- 1192).