私 means “private, I, me”

わたし · watashi

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): わたくし, わたし
On'yomi (Chinese reading): シ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 6 · 7 strokes

The story

Grain (禾) kept for oneself (ム): what isn't shared is private. In Japanese, 私 is the most common way to say "I": personal, modest, and polite. The tension between 公 (public) and 私 (private) runs deep in Japanese culture.

Used as a pronoun meaning "I/me" and in 私立 (shiritsu, private institution)

私 means “private, I, me”

The story

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