君
Meaning in Englishyou informal, mainly used by men
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
What does 君 mean? It is a second-person pronoun used to address someone with familiarity or closeness, often in casual or intimate contexts. In historical and literary settings, it can also mean 'the lord' or 'the ruler' as a form of addressing a superior.
Main meanings
- Casual second-person pronoun toward a familiar person, with a masculine or intimate tone
- Historical or literary use as a form of addressing a lord or monarch
- Direct address to the reader or a character in fiction, poetry, or songs
- Tone and politeness shift with relationship; not appropriate for formal or polite conversation
How to use it
Used in casual conversation toward someone familiar, especially by men; not common in formal settings; in fiction it creates intimacy or a direct line to the listener; in historical writing, it serves as a respectful but familiar address.
Variants and close terms
- あなた (anata) — you, neutral or polite
- お前 (omae) — you, rough or masculine
- 君たち (kimitachi) — you all, plural
Composition
- 君 is a single kanji representing a person addressed as you or a ruler; its meaning shifts with context to intimate address or authority
Origin
Adopted from the Chinese character 君, it has appeared in classical Japanese speech and literature for centuries, shaping its dual sense as both a direct second-person pronoun and a title reflecting status.
Word class
pronoun (代名詞)