watashi Vs. 'I' & 'you'

[jeffbert]

Another METROPOLIS question. Kenichi is trying to teach Tima to speak, but what does he really say? The subs have the conversation centering on Tima's misuse of 'I' & 'you' the 1st and 2nd person pronouns, but in Japanese, both are 'watashi'!

[wing area]

I might be able to help? Where can I watch the clip? (Still haven't seen Metropolis! Bah...)

[jeffbert]

I know of none; it is on DVD, though.

[AprilSeven]

This sounds like an F-man question (but I saw his computer was out of commission...)

[Dr. Jerk]

I don't think F-Man would be able to help anyway. This question deals more with Japanese grammar, not so much Metropolis itself.

[F-Man]

From memory alone, i remember Kenichi says "Kimi wa watashi" ("You are I") followed by something something kimi ("Watashi wa kimi', I think). I'm almost certain "kimi" is one of the many variants of "you" in Japanese.

[wing area]

I'm almost certain "kimi" is one of the many variants of "you" in Japanese.

It is. It's considered informal, typically used by men (who are speaking to someone of lower status).