私 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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What Does 私 Mean in Japanese?

私 means I, me, or private.

The reading わたし is one of the most common first-person pronouns, while the on’yomi シ appears in compounds such as 私立 and 私物.

Reading

On’yomi: シ (shi)

Kun’yomi: わたし (watashi), わたくし (watakushi)

Basic Information

Kanji 私
Meaning I, private
Stroke Count 7
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

私 is commonly used as the neutral first-person pronoun わたし. In compounds it carries the sense of private, personal, or non-governmental.

Common Words

  • 私（わたし / watashi） — I, me
  • 私たち（わたしたち / watashitachi） — we, us
  • 私立（しりつ / shiritsu） — private, privately established
  • 私生活（しせいかつ / shiseikatsu） — private life
  • 私物（しぶつ / shibutsu） — personal belongings
  • 私用（しよう / shiyou） — personal business, private use

Example Sentences

  • 私は福岡に住んでいます。

    わたしはふくおかにすんでいます。 / Watashi wa Fukuoka ni sunde imasu.

    I live in Fukuoka.

  • これは私の本です。

    これはわたしのほんです。 / Kore wa watashi no hon desu.

    This is my book.

  • 会社の電話を私用で使わないでください。

    かいしゃのでんわをしようでつかわないでください。 / Kaisha no denwa o shiyou de tsukawanaide kudasai.

    Please do not use the company phone for personal business.

Related Kanji

  • 自

    — 自分 is a common way to refer to oneself

  • 友

    — Friends are part of one’s personal life

  • 公

    — 公 and 私 contrast public and private matters

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

The kun’yomi わたし is essential in everyday speech. The on’yomi シ appears in compounds such as 私立, 私生活, and 私物.

Summary

私 means I or private and is central to self-introduction, personal matters, and private institutions.