I have been having a hard time figuring something out. I've been watching Da Capo and I notice that Sakura-chan always
uses "Boku" to address herself. I know this is a masculine word so I
was wondering why she uses it all the time. I've never heard her use any of the
feminine forms of "I." I looked up online and the best reasons I could
find about why some females use "Boku" are: they are gay/lesbian and
want others to know that they are, or they were taught improperly when growing
up. I'm not sure if either of those apply for Sakura-chan because she is hetero
(obviously) and I think she was taught Japanese properly. But then again, she
moved away for 6 years to America...so I'm not sure. But even if that were the
case, I would think that someone would correct her or something.
Maybe there is a totally reasonable reason why she is using "Boku," I
don't know even though from what I've been taught in class is that only males
use "Boku." I know there have been a few other series as well that
I've heard a girl use "Boku" but I can't think of them off the top of
my head since I watch a lot...
But if anyone knows what's going on here, please share! It is bugging me so much
that I don't know why she is using "BOKU!"
"Boku" isn't that uncommon to be used by girls of a younger age or of
a tomboyish character. Usually by middle/high school, when girls wish to appear
more grown-up feminine they would stop using "boku" to refer to
themselves. It could also depend on the region of Japan they are from, as some
dialects have more gender-neutral usage.
In the case of Sakura-chan I suspect the reason is to make herself appear
younger, as before she had left for 6 years. Another good example of a female
character using "boku" is Tsukimiya Ayu from Kanon.
I have been having a hard time figuring something out. I've been watching Da Capo and I notice that Sakura-chan always uses "Boku" to address herself. I know this is a masculine word so I was wondering why she uses it all the time. I've never heard her use any of the feminine forms of "I." I looked up online and the best reasons I could find about why some females use "Boku" are: they are gay/lesbian and want others to know that they are, or they were taught improperly when growing up. I'm not sure if either of those apply for Sakura-chan because she is hetero (obviously) and I think she was taught Japanese properly. But then again, she moved away for 6 years to America...so I'm not sure. But even if that were the case, I would think that someone would correct her or something.
Maybe there is a totally reasonable reason why she is using "Boku," I don't know even though from what I've been taught in class is that only males use "Boku." I know there have been a few other series as well that I've heard a girl use "Boku" but I can't think of them off the top of my head since I watch a lot...
But if anyone knows what's going on here, please share! It is bugging me so much that I don't know why she is using "BOKU!"
"Boku" isn't that uncommon to be used by girls of a younger age or of a tomboyish character. Usually by middle/high school, when girls wish to appear more grown-up feminine they would stop using "boku" to refer to themselves. It could also depend on the region of Japan they are from, as some dialects have more gender-neutral usage.
In the case of Sakura-chan I suspect the reason is to make herself appear younger, as before she had left for 6 years. Another good example of a female character using "boku" is Tsukimiya Ayu from Kanon.