あいつ

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Informal/rough. Can sound contemptuous or rude depending on context. Often used among male friends casually.

Ko-so-a-do system

Part of the demonstrative pronoun system for people:

• こいつ (this guy - near speaker)
• そいつ (that guy - near listener)
• あいつ (that guy - distant from both)
• どいつ (which guy - interrogative)

Writing

Can be written 彼奴(あいつ) but usually in hiragana.

Usage

• Casual/rough among friends: affectionate
• About strangers/enemies: contemptuous
• Neutral gender but often used for males

Polite alternatives

• あの人(ひと) (that person - polite)
• あの方(かた) (that person - formal)
• 彼(かれ)/彼女(かのじょ) (he/she - neutral)

Related words

• こいつ (this guy)
• そいつ (that guy)
• どいつ (which guy)
• あの人(ひと) (that person - polite)