あなた

あ

な

た

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 200

Meanings

1

pronoun

you

usually written using kana alone

Polite second-person pronoun, traditionally used toward equals or those of lower status. In modern Japanese it can sound distant or even rude when used with someone whose name you know; often replaced by the person's name with an honorific.

あなたはどこにお住すまいですか。
Where do you live?
田た中なかさん、あなた

の

意い

見けん

を

聞き

か

せ

て

ください

。

Tanaka-san, please tell me your opinion.

2

pronoun

dear; honey

familiar languageusually written using kana alone

Only when written 貴方 / 貴男

Familiar term used by a wife to address her husband; carries an intimate, affectionate tone. In modern usage, it is somewhat old-fashioned and may be replaced by the husband's name or other terms of endearment.

あなた、今日きょうは早はやく帰かえってくる？
Honey, are you coming home early today?

Written forms

あなたUsage93%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
The standard modern spelling; usually written in kana.
貴方あなたUsage6%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Kanji spelling, now rare and literary; can feel old-fashioned or stiff.
アナタUsage1%
貴女あなたUsage1%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Explicitly feminine kanji spelling; very rare in modern writing.
貴男あなた
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Explicitly masculine kanji spelling; very rare in modern writing.

Kanji

貴precious, value, prize
方direction, person, alternative
女woman, female
男

Similar words

君きみ
More casual and often used toward close friends, juniors, or in romantic contexts; can sound condescending if used inappropriately.
お前まえ
Very informal and can be rude; used among close male friends or in confrontational situations.

Etymology

Originally a demonstrative meaning 'that direction' or 'over there', which developed into a respectful second-person pronoun. The kanji 貴方 literally mean 'noble direction'.

male