Japanese dictionary
How to say "you" in Japanese
あなたあなた · anata
"You" in Japanese is あなた (anata), but Japanese speakers usually use the person's name with さん instead: 田中さんは…
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Ways to say "you" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| あなたあなた · anata | You. |
| 〜さんさん · san | Name + san (the usual way to say "you"). |
| 君きみ · kimi | You (casual; to juniors). |
| 皆さんみなさん · minasan | You all; everyone. |
How to use it
Using あなた to someone senior can sound distant. Use their name or title: 部長 (buchō).
"You all" when speaking to a group is 皆さん (minasan).
Example sentences
- 田中さんはどこに住んでいますか。Tanaka-san wa doko ni sunde imasu ka.Where do you live, Mr. Tanaka?
- 皆さん、おはようございます。Minasan, ohayō gozaimasu.Good morning, everyone.
- あなたの意見を聞かせてください。Anata no iken o kikasete kudasai.Please tell me your opinion.
- 部長はコーヒーを飲みますか。Buchō wa kōhī o nomimasu ka.Would you like coffee? (to a manager)
- お名前は何ですか。O-namae wa nan desu ka.What's your name?
- 君はどう思う？Kimi wa dō omou?What do you think?
Questions
Is it rude to say あなた in Japanese?
Not rude, but it can sound distant. Use the person's name with さん or their job title instead.
How do you say "you all" in Japanese?
Say 皆さん (minasan).
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.