Try Animei free

Kimi (君): what it means in anime

君

きみ · kimi · you; buddy; pal JLPT N4

Kimi is a familiar "you" used toward someone equal or below you in status. It sounds gentle or affectionate from a friend and condescending from a stranger.

Where you hear it 19 of 42 series

Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.

Also in: Tokyo Ghoul, Chainsaw Man, Dr. Stone, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Sword Art Online, Soul Eater, Spy x Family, Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, Cowboy Bebop, Psycho-Pass.

Usage and nuance

In anime 君 is the pronoun of teachers to students, bosses to subordinates, boyfriends to girlfriends and song lyrics to the listener. Your Name is 君の名は, and the 君 there is tender, not rude.

Used by a character who barely knows the other person, it comes across as talking down. Lelouch in Code Geass and Senku in Dr. Stone use it in exactly that superior tone.

The suffix くん (kun) is written with the same kanji, which trips up learners. 君 on its own is the pronoun; attached to a name it is the suffix for boys and juniors.

Hear 君 in My Hero Academia27 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account