Onyomi 音読み

Kunyomi 訓読み

Explanation

I, private, personal

Personalized In Depth Explorations About 私

Kanji Story

Imagine a person standing alone with their arms crossed, representing privacy and individuality. This person represents 'I' or 'me', encompassing personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Frequency in JLPT exams

The kanji '私' is an essential character encountered in JLPT materials, particularly at the N4 and higher levels. Its usage in various contexts makes it important for both reading and comprehension sections of the exam.

Example Sentences

• 私は学生です。

  I am a student.

  わたしはがくせいです。

  Watashi wa gakusei desu.

  Pronunciation

• 私の名前は山田です。

  My name is Yamada.

  わたしのなまえはやまだです。

  Watashi no namae wa Yamada desu.

  Pronunciation

• 私たちは友達です。

  We are friends.

  わたしたちはともだちです。

  Watashitachi wa tomodachi desu.

  Pronunciation

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

• The kanji '私' is frequently used in daily conversations and writing, and is important for the JLPT.
• Pay attention to the different readings and their contexts. '私' as 'watakushi' is often used in formal situations, while 'watashi' is a more common and general term for 'I'.
• Practice writing the kanji to familiarize yourself with its stroke order, which can also help improve reading comprehension skills for the JLPT.
• Pay attention to the usage of '私' in different contexts and sentence structures, as it can have nuances based on the situation.

Usage in Japanese Names

• Names like '私子' (Watakushi-ko) or '私恵' (Watakushi-e) use the kanji '私'. It can be used to symbolize one's individuality or personal traits.