question about 僕

[quamp]

All right, in my basic Japanese textbook there is this quote:

僕 (ぼく) is "I." It is strictly for male speakers only, and used in informal situations. 僕 sometimes can carry a implication of being macho.

However, I've been hearing female speakers use 僕 as well of late. This is primarily in songs, but in other, informal situations where they are talking to other female speakers as well. I know it's used only with plain verbs, but it's the gender thing that's confusing me. What's going on here? Is my basic Japanese textbook out of date or something? (It was published in 2005.) :?

[orochi]

Rules were made to be broken. It's typically been used only by males. But girls who are trying to act tomboyish or "macho" also use it. It's not like there's a penalty for using the wrong pronoun. ;)

[epigene]

Yes, in addition to orochi's comment, Japanese songs are not necessarily sung in the first person, i.e., based on the gender of the singer.

Utada Hikaru, for instance, sings "Boku wa Kuma," singing from the standpoint of the boy bear. :-)

[Mikawa Ossan]

Also, sometimes in songs singers will reverse sexual roles. By this I mean, a man will sing a song from the woman's perspective. Perhaps some singers like Hamasaki Ayumi are doing this?

EDIT: looks like epigene got here first! :bow:

[tanhql]

but sometimes, i hear males calling females 'XX-kun' instead of 'XX-san'. i thought only males are called 'kun'?

[orochi]

but sometimes, i hear males calling females 'XX-kun' instead of 'XX-san'. i thought only males are called 'kun'?


Like I said above, rules are meant to be broken.

Japanese, like all other modern languages, is alive. It changes.

[quamp]

:souka: 有り難うございました.

tanhql, I've also heard that. I've also heard males calling each other "(名前)-ちゃん" instead of "(名前)-くん" too, but it's always in informal situations.

[epigene]

but sometimes, i hear males calling females 'XX-kun' instead of 'XX-san'. i thought only males are called 'kun'?
The situation in which that can happen normally is in an office situation where the boss is male.

The boss may want to eliminate gender consciousness in addressing his subordinates and use "-kun" with everyone including women.

That's just one example I can think of. There may be others. :relief:

[nice gaijin]

I've heard college professors use -kun for girls. In general, I wouldn't recommend anyone still learning Japanese to do this; chances are, by the time you get into a position when this would be appropriate, you would be able to determine this on your own.