Readings: ガ (Onyomi), われ, わ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: I, me, self, ego
The character depicts a hand holding a serrated weapon, symbolizing “self” or “I” as a distinct entity with its own power and assertion.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 我 has 7 strokes. It begins with the left-falling stroke, followed by the horizontal stroke, then the short vertical hook, followed by the long horizontal stroke, then the left-falling stroke, then the curving hook, and finally the dot.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 戈 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ガ (ga)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- われ (ware)
- わ (wa)
Common Words Using 我
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自我 | じが | self, ego |
| 我慢 | がまん | patience, endurance, perseverance |
| 我々 | われわれ | we, us (formal) |
| 我流 | がりゅう | one’s own style, self-taught |
| 我田引水 | がでんいんすい | pulling water to one’s own rice paddies; seeking one’s own interests |
| 我武者羅 | がむしゃら | reckless, headlong, desperate |
| 我意 | がい | obstinacy, self-will |
| 我執 | がしゅう | attachment to self, egoism |
| 我見 | がけん | selfish view, biased opinion |
| 我を忘れる | われをわすれる | to lose oneself, to be engrossed |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | われ | I, myself (archaic/literary) |
| 我が家 | わがや | my home |
| 我が国 | わがくに | my country, our country |
| 我と | われと | by myself, on my own |
| 我知らず | われしらず | unconsciously, unwittingly |
| 我ながら | われながら | even for myself (admiringly/regrettably) |
| 我先にと | われさきにと | vying to be first |
| 我が物顔 | わがものがお | with an air of proprietorship |
| 我を張る | われをはる | to insist on one’s own way, to be stubborn |
| 我物 | わがもの | one’s own property |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は自我が強い。
Kana: かれはじががつよい。
Romaji: Kare wa jiga ga tsuyoi.
English: He has a strong ego.
Japanese: 痛みに我慢する。
Kana: いたみがまんする。
Romaji: Itami ni gaman suru.
English: To endure pain.
Japanese: 我々は未来を創造する。
Kana: われわれはみらいをそうぞうする。
Romaji: Wareware wa mirai o sōzō suru.
English: We will create the future.
Japanese: 彼女は料理を我流で学んだ。
Kana: かのじょはりょうりをがりゅうでまなんだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa ryōri o garyū de mananda.
English: She learned cooking in her own style.
Japanese: 彼は常に我田引水で物事を考える。
Kana: かれはつねにがでんいんすいでものごとをかんがえる。
Romaji: Kare wa tsune ni gaden’insui de monogoto o kangaeru.
English: He always thinks about things in a self-serving way.
Japanese: その選手は我武者羅にゴールを目指した。
Kana: そのせんしゅはがむしゃらにゴールをめざした。
Romaji: Sono senshu wa gamushara ni gōru o mezashita.
English: That player recklessly aimed for the goal.
Japanese: 我を忘れて夢中になった。
Kana: われをわすれてむちゅうになった。
Romaji: Ware o wasurete muchū ni natta.
English: I lost myself and became engrossed.
Japanese: これが我が家だ。
Kana: これがわがやだ。
Romaji: Kore ga wagaya da.
English: This is my home.
Japanese: 我が国は美しい。
Kana: わがくにはうつくしい。
Romaji: Wagakuni wa utsukushii.
English: My country is beautiful.
Japanese: 彼は自分の意見ばかり我を張る。
Kana: かれはじぶんのいけんばかりわれをはる。
Romaji: Kare wa jibun no iken bakari ware o haru.
English: He insists stubbornly on only his own opinions.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.