Japanese dictionary
How to say "he" in Japanese
彼かれ · kare
"He" in Japanese is 彼 (kare), but Japanese speakers usually use the person's name instead, like 田中さん. 彼 can also mean "boyfriend."
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Ways to say "he" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 彼かれ · kare | He. Can also mean boyfriend. |
| この人このひと · kono hito | He; this person. |
| （名前）さんなまえさん · ___-san | He (using the person's name). Most natural. |
How to use it
Japanese often leaves out "he" entirely when it is clear who you mean.
To refer to someone nearby politely, say この方 (kono kata), "this person."
Example sentences
- 田中さんは営業部です。Tanaka-san wa eigyōbu desu.He (Mr. Tanaka) is in sales.
- 彼は大学の友だちです。Kare wa daigaku no tomodachi desu.He's a friend from college.
- こちらの方が新しい部長です。Kochira no kata ga atarashii buchō desu.He is our new department manager.
- 彼女には彼がいます。Kanojo ni wa kare ga imasu.She has a boyfriend.
- この人はだれですか。Kono hito wa dare desu ka.Who is he?
- 彼の意見に賛成です。Kare no iken ni sansei desu.I agree with his opinion.
Questions
Should I use 彼 for he in Japanese?
It's grammatical, but in everyday speech and at work people usually use the person's name with さん, or leave the subject out.
Does 彼 mean boyfriend?
It can. 彼 (kare) or 彼氏 (kareshi) can mean boyfriend, depending on context.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.