君

• Reading: きみ
• Romaji: kimi
• Kanji breakdown: 君 (kun/kimi) — you, lord, ruler
• Pronunciation: /ki.mi/

Meaning

You. An informal second-person pronoun, typically used by men toward peers or those of lower status.

A casual pronoun for 'you' that is commonly used among male friends, by superiors toward subordinates, and in song lyrics and poetry. It carries a sense of closeness or informality. Using 君 toward someone of higher status or a stranger would be rude. Women sometimes use it in intimate or literary contexts.

Examples

1. 君はどう思う？ What do you think?
2. 君の意見を聞かせてほしい。 I'd like to hear your opinion.
3. 君がいないと寂しいよ。 It's lonely without you.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, informal speech, songs, literature

Tone: familiar

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 君 originally meant 'lord' or 'ruler' in Chinese, but in Japanese it shifted to an informal second-person pronoun and a familiar honorific suffix.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: Young adults

Social background: Universal