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What is the Kanji for 'Self' and 'Ego'? | 我

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Self' and 'Ego', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Self' and 'Ego' is 我.

    kanji

    我

    Meaning

    Self, Ego

    Reading

    kunyomiわ

    wa

    われ

    ware

    onyomiが

    ga

    Parts

    手Hand 戈

    Example Word

    我々: we. The Japanese pronoun '我々 (われわれ)' means 'we'. It is a formal and somewhat literary way to refer to a group that includes the speaker. It is often used in speeches, formal writing, or when emphasizing a collective identity. For example: We must work together「我々は共に働かなければならない」(われわれはともにはたらかなければならない). We are responsible「我々は責任がある」(われわれはせきにんがある). Note that '我々' is less commonly used in casual conversation, where '私たち (わたしたち)' is more typical.

    Radical

    戈

    Stroke Count

    7

    JLPT

    N1

    Grade

    6

    Frequency

    182

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 我

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    手

    Meaning

    Hand

    component

    戈

我 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 2 other kanji:

    kanji

    義

    Meaning

    Righteousness

    kanji

    餓

    Meaning

    Starve

Words Using 我

This kanji is used in 8 words:

    word

    我々

    Meaning

    We

    word

    我が

    Meaning

    My

    word

    我

    Meaning

    I, We

    word

    怪我

    Meaning

    Injury

    word

    我慢

    Meaning

    Endure, Patience

    word

    我が家

    Meaning

    Home

    word

    自我

    Meaning

    Ego

    word

    我が国

    Meaning

    Our country

Kanji Related to 我 Through the Part 手

These 8 kanji contain the part 手 as well.

    kanji

    承

    Meaning

    Consent

    kanji

    挙

    Meaning

    Raise

    kanji

    看

    Meaning

    Watch

    kanji

    撃

    Meaning

    Beat, Strike

    kanji

    摩

    Meaning

    Rub, Chafe

    kanji

    掌

    Meaning

    Palm, Manipulate

    kanji

    拳

    Meaning

    Fist

    kanji

    摯

    Meaning

    Gift, Seriousness

Kanji Related to 我 Through the Part 戈

These 7 kanji contain the part 戈 as well.

    kanji

    戦

    Meaning

    Fight, War

    kanji

    幾

    Meaning

    Some, How many

    kanji

    歳

    Meaning

    Year, Years old

    kanji

    伐

    Meaning

    Fell, Cut down

    kanji

    戒

    Meaning

    Admonish, Commandment

    kanji

    戯

    Meaning

    Play, Frolic

    kanji

    畿

    Meaning

    Capital, Suburbs of capital

Learn the Kanji 我

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 我 mean?

我 means 'Self' and 'Ego'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Sixth Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N1 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.