Japanese

Alternative forms

• 吾が

Pronoun

我が ‎(hiragana わが, romaji waga)

1. (literary, archaic) my, our

   我 (わ)が国 (くに)

   waga kuni

   our country

   我 (わ)が妻 (つま)

   waga tsuma

   my wife

Usage notes

This is a fossilized phrase, and usage is somewhat restricted. Carries old-fashioned connotations, and suggests a favorable view of the following noun. When used in reference to an organization, the speaker must be a member of that organization.

Derived terms

• 我 (わ)が国 (くに) ‎(wagakuni): our country
• 我 (わ)が家 (や) ‎(wagaya); 我 (わ)が家 (いえ) ‎(waga ie); 我 (わ)が家 (え) ‎(waga e): my / our home, house, household
• 我 (わ)が社 (しゃ) ‎(wagasha): my / our company
• 我 (わ)が輩 (はい) ‎(wagahai): I, me
• 我 (わ)が子 (こ) ‎(wagako): my children, one's own children
• わがまま ‎(wagamama): selfish, autocratic
• 我 (わ)が世 (よ)の春 (はる) ‎(waga yo no haru): heyday
• 我 (わ)が身 (み) ‎(wagami) oneself
• 我 (わ)が物 (もの) ‎(wagamono): one's own possession
• 我 (わ)が物顔 (ものがお) ‎(wagamonogao) acting like one owns the place

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan