Japanese Conversation · Level 16
90 words
Japanese word
彼
Pronunciation
Romajikare
Meaning
- pronounhe
Example
彼は元気です。kare wa gen ki de su
He is well.
More examples
彼はサッカーが好きです。kare wa sa kkā ga su ki de su
He likes soccer.
私は彼を知っています。watashi wa kare o shi tte i ma su
I know him.
Core concept
Marks one specific male person in relation to the speaker and the situation being described.
Common phrases
彼と話すkare to hana su
talk with him
彼に会うkare ni a u
meet him
彼の名前kare no na mae
his name
Definition in Japanese
話題や動作の対象となる男性を指し示す代名詞。wa dai ya dō sa no tai shō to na ru dan sei o sa shi shime su dai mei shi
Word origin
彼 (kare) is a native Japanese demonstrative form that later became the usual pronoun for referring to a male person in the third person.
Usage tips
- Japanese does not automatically use 彼 (kare) wherever English uses "he," because repeating a name or omitting the pronoun is often more natural.
Other meanings
- himpronoun