Watashi
* Gender: Can be used by both men and women.
* Formality: Polite and formal.
* Usage: Generally used in formal situations, writing, and when speaking with people you don't know well.
Boku
* Gender: Only used by men.
* Formality: Informal.
* Usage: Commonly used in casual speech among friends, family, and people you are comfortable with.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences between watashi and boku:
| Pronoun | Gender | Formality | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watashi | Both men and women | Polite and formal | Formal situations, writing, speaking with people you don't know well |
| Boku | Men | Informal | Casual speech among friends, family, and people you are comfortable with |
It's important to note that there are other first-person pronouns in Japanese, such as ore, atashi, and uchi, which have different nuances and are used in specific situations.