Japanese word

あなた

Pronunciation

Romajianata

Meaning

  • pronounyou

Example

あなたは学生ですか？a na ta wa gaku sei de su ka

Are you a student?

Illustration for あなた (you)

More examples

あなたは私の友達です。a na ta wa watashi no tomo dachi de su

You are my friend.

先生はあなたを待っています。sen sei wa a na ta o ma tte i ma su

The teacher is waiting for you.

Core concept

Puts the listener at the center of what the speaker says without naming the listener.

Common phrases

  • あなたの名前a na ta no na mae

    your name

  • あなたの番a na ta no ban

    your turn

Similar words

君kimi: A familiar pronoun for addressing someone of equal or lower social status.
あんたanta: A colloquial pronoun for the person being addressed, often carrying familiarity or a blunt tone.
お前omae: An informal pronoun used when addressing a close friend or a person of lower status.

Definition in Japanese

話し手が、聞き手や発言の相手を指していう語。hana shi te ga ki ki te ya hatsu gen no ai te o sa shi te i u go

Word origin

あなた (anata) is related to 彼方 (anata, "that direction"), and its second-person use grew from referring to the other side or the person over there.

Usage tips

  • Although あなた (anata) means "you," frequent use can sound blunt or intimate, so names and titles are common alternatives.

Word lists with this word