The Meaning of “Jibun
Today, I will talk about the meaning of the Japanese word “jibun.”
「自分」の意味
Normally, “Jibun” means “I,” and is used when you refer to yourself.
今日は、日本語の「自分」の意味を紹介します。
For example: “Jibun ha Tokyo shusshin desu (I am from Tokyo.)”
「自分」は通常、話し手が自分自身を参照する際に使う一人称の言葉です。
However, in Western Japan, “jibun” means “you,” and is used when you refer to your conversation partner.
例：自分は東京出身です。
For example: “Jibun doko kara kitann (where are you from)?”
しかし、関西地方で「自分」は、話し相手を指す際に使う二人称の言葉です。
The reason is because they speak while thinking the conversation partner’s perspective.
例：自分どこから来たん？
“Boku” is the first-person word for men, but we sometimes use it as the meaning of “you” toward young boys, such as “boku, nan-sai (how old are you)?”
これは、話す際に相手の立場に立って考えているからです。
As just described, since first-person and second-person words are sometimes mingle in Japan, please be careful.
「僕」は男が使う一人称ですが、女性が小さい子どもに対して相手目線になり、「僕、何歳？」のように使うこともよくあります。
