Is “Ore” Rude in Japanese? Know Before You Speak
What does “ore” actually mean?
Not just a simple “I”
So here’s the deal: in Japanese, there isn’t just one way to say “I”. There’s watashi, boku, ore, and a few others depending on who you are, who you’re talking to, and how you want to come across.
Ore () is a super casual, masculine way to say “I”. Think confident, maybe even cocky. You’ll hear it a lot in anime and with guys talking to friends. But — and here’s the key — context is everything.
I remember when I first started learning Japanese, I heard a cool anime character say "Ore wa..." and thought, "Heck yeah, that sounds badass." So I tried it in class once. My teacher raised an eyebrow and said, “Maybe use 'watashi' here, okay?” Instant cringe.
So... is “ore” rude or not?
It depends who you're talking to
Honestly? No, it’s not rude by default, but it can definitely come off as rude if used in the wrong situation.
Here's the vibe breakdown:
With close friends (especially guy friends)? Totally fine.
In formal settings? Nope. Just... don’t.
To someone older or in a higher position? That’s asking for side-eye.
It’s kinda like calling your boss “dude” in an email. You could, but should you? Probably not.
When “ore” feels aggressive
If you’re using “ore” with the wrong tone — like showing off or trying to dominate a convo — yeah, it’ll sound rude. There’s this alpha-male undertone sometimes.
My Japanese friend Daichi once said, “If a stranger walks into a store and says ‘Ore wa…’ to the staff, it feels arrogant. Even aggressive.” That really stuck with me.
Other ways to say “I” in Japanese (and when to use them)
Watashi () – the safest bet
Formal, neutral, polite. Works in business, interviews, with strangers.
Both men and women use it. I still default to watashi when I’m unsure. It’s like wearing a clean white shirt — can’t go wrong.
Boku () – casual but polite
Used mostly by men, especially younger ones. It’s friendly, soft, but still respectful. I started with boku when talking to people my age, and it always felt like a good middle ground.
Atashi, uchi, washi... and more
There are feminine, regional, or old-school versions too. Like atashi for women, or washi for old dudes (seriously, only grandpas).
Don’t worry about mastering them all — just knowing the top three will get you far.
Why anime and pop culture confuse everything
Characters are not real life
Okay, confession: most of us fall into this trap. We hear tough guys in anime saying “ore” and think, “That’s how I wanna sound.” But anime characters often exaggerate speech for drama or comedy.
What sounds cool on TV can sound totally awkward (or even aggressive) in a real-life café.
I once repeated a line from One Piece (yes, I’m that guy) and a Japanese friend just laughed like, “Bro, no one talks like that here.” Lesson learned.
Final thoughts: should you use “ore”?
Here’s my honest take:
If you’re just starting out, stick with watashi or boku — you’ll sound way more natural and polite.
If you’re in Japan and talking with close friends, and they use “ore”, it’s fine to try it out.
But don’t force it. You don’t need to sound tough — you need to sound respectful.
Honestly, I used to want to sound cool in Japanese. Now I just want to sound like I get the culture. And that means knowing when “ore” is okay… and when it’s just asking for trouble.
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Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
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Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.