Japanese pronouns are frequently omitted in speech --
context makes clear who or what is being referred to.
Personal pronouns do not change for case. That said, the basic list of personal pronouns is as follows:
- watakushi
- "I" or "me". Often contracted to watashi; or atashi (women only).
Plural form is wata(ku)shitachi, which indicates "we" or "us".
- boku
- Also means "I" or "me". More casual than watashi or watakushi. Used mostly (but not exclusively) by men and boys.
Plural: bokura or bokutachi.
- anata
- Translates to "you". Rarely used, compared with English. The name, position, or title of the person being referred to is usually used instead.
Plural: anatatachi or anatagata
- kimi
- Also means "you". It is more casual than anata. As for whether this pronoun is actually used much (compared to anata) in colloquial speech, I don't know.
- kare
- "He" or "him". The title, position, or name of the person referred to is usually preferred.
Plural: karera, "they" (masculine or mixed).
- kanojo
- "She" or "her". Again, title, position, or name is usually preferred over this pronoun.
Plural: kanojotachi, referring to a group of females.
- ano hito
- Often used for "he", "she", or to mean "that person" (the literal meaning). This is more common than the previous two pronouns for referring to a third person.
Plural: ano hitobito or ano hitotachi, which indicates "they" or "those people".