22
私
I, Me, Private
わたし (watashi), わたくし (watakushi)
JLPT N4
Interesting Fact
The kanji 私 originally meant "private" or "personal," not "I." Over time, Japanese speakers began using it to refer to themselves in a humble, personal way. Today, 私 (watashi) is the most common and polite way to say "I," but its original meaning still survives in words like 私立 (shiritsu – private school) and 私生活 (shiseikatsu – private life).
Memory Trick
The left side of 私 is a rice plant. Imagine a farmer pointing to his favorite rice plant and proudly saying, "This one is mine!"
Readings
Onyomi: シ (shi)
Kunyomi: わたし (watashi), わたくし (watakushi)
Example Words
私
わたし (watashi)
I, Me
私たち
わたしたち (watashitachi)
We
私立
しりつ (shiritsu)
Private (school/institution)
私生活
しせいかつ (shiseikatsu)
Private life
Example Sentence
私は 日本語を 勉強しています。
わたしは にほんごを べんきょうしています。
watashi wa nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu
I am studying Japanese.