俺
I, myself
Readings
On'yomi
- エン
Kun'yomi
- おれ
- われ
Meaning
俺 centers on the first-person pronoun 'I' or 'myself', used in informal, masculine speech to refer to oneself.
Most common words using 俺
- 俺おれN1
I; me
- 俺らおれら
we; us
- ギョエテとは俺のことかとゲーテいいギョエテとはおれのことかとゲーテいい
you say tomato, I say tomato; (your) Goethe ("Gyoete") is whom I call Goethe ("Gēte")
- 俺ＴＵＥＥＥおれつえええ
"Mary Sue" protagonist (inexplicably strong or capable character)
- 俺が俺がおれがおれが
me, me, me
- 俺たちおれたち
we; us
- 俺っちおれっち
we; us
- 俺んちおれんち
my house
- 俺女おれおんな
tomboy; boyish girl
- 俺様おれさま
I; me
- 俺氏おれし
I; me
- 俺的おれてき
my personal (e.g. opinion)
- 俺等達おいらっち
we; us
Study
Etymology
俺 combines the person radical 亻 with 奄, which likely contributes the sound. The character was adopted in Japanese as a first-person pronoun, especially in informal male speech.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 beside 奄: imagine a rugged guy pointing to himself with his thumb, saying 'It's me, myself, I.'
Reading mnemonic
For エン, picture yourself as the main character in an 'en'-dless story about 'I': en -> エン, and you are the protagonist.