我(われ)

われ

pronoun

I; oneself (literary)

1. I; me (literary, formal)

A first-person pronoun belonging to written and elevated style: speeches, literature, mottoes, and set phrases. In ordinary conversation 私(わたし) is used instead.

我(われ)思(おも)う、ゆえに我(われ)あり。

I think, therefore I am.

我(われ)こそはと思(おも)う人(ひと)は手(て)を挙(あ)げてください。

Anyone who thinks they are up to it, please raise your hand.

我(われ)なき時(とき)にも仕事(しごと)が続(つづ)くよう、若(わか)い人(ひと)を育(そだ)てておきたい。

I want to train young people so the work continues even when I am gone.

2. oneself; one's own self

One's own mind or presence of mind, as opposed to being carried away or absorbed. This sense survives mainly in fixed expressions.

我(われ)を忘(わす)れて見(み)とれた。

I was so absorbed in the sight that I forgot myself.

名前(なまえ)を呼(よ)ばれて我(われ)に返(かえ)った。

Hearing my name called, I came to my senses.

皆(みな)が我(われ)も我(われ)もと席(せき)を立(た)ち、出口(でぐち)に向(む)かって走(はし)り出(だ)した。

Everyone leapt up, each trying to be first, and ran for the exit.

Usage

Outside set phrases, 我(われ) is confined to formal writing and oratory; using it in conversation sounds archaic or theatrical. The plural 我々(われわれ) (we), by contrast, is ordinary formal speech.

Common expressions

我(われ)に返(かえ)る: to come to one's senses
我(われ)を忘(わす)れる: to be beside oneself; to be lost in something
我(われ)も我(われ)も: everyone at once, each pushing to be first
我(われ)こそは: I am the one — declaring oneself equal to a task
我(わ)が国(くに): our country — the same kanji read わ before が

Similar words

私(わたし): I — the neutral everyday pronoun
自分(じぶん): oneself — the ordinary word for sense 2

Related Words

Compare: 私(わたし) (I — the neutral everyday pronoun)

Compare: 自分(じぶん) (oneself)

Compare: 自己(じこ) (self)

Compare: 己(おのれ) (oneself)

general

Added 2026.8.15 0:52 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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