あなた
あなた
pronoun
you
1.
you (polite, neutral)
Second person pronoun used in polite or neutral contexts.
2.
you, dear (to spouse)
Term of address used by wives when speaking to their husbands.
あなた、聞いてる？
Dear, are you listening?
あなた is the standard second person pronoun, but its usage is more limited than English "you."
USAGE NOTES:
- In daily conversation, Japanese speakers often avoid pronouns entirely, using names or titles instead
- Using あなた too frequently can sound cold or confrontational
- In formal settings, use the person's name + さん/様 instead
SPOUSAL USAGE:
- Wives commonly address husbands as あなた (dear)
- Husbands typically don't use あなた for wives; they use names or お前/きみ
WHEN TO AVOID:
- With superiors (use name/title)
- With strangers (can sound rude)
- When the subject is clear from context (omit entirely)
OTHER "YOU" WORDS:
- きみ: casual, male speaker to close friend/subordinate
- お前: casual/rough, between close friends
- 貴方様: very formal written form