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I'm making a shirt for a (rather egotistical) friend of mine and so am trying
to do something with the slogan "I am the best" for fun. I need something with
four characters only, and would like to ask the difference between

> 私の一番, 私が一番, 私は一番,

and which one would be the most appropriate in the context that he is saying
it of himself. My grammar is not fantastic. I understand that が would entail a
meaning like "I am the number one" versus は which would be "I am a number one"
(correct me if I'm wrong). One of my friends has suggested

> 俺が一番, 俺様一番

Can someone explain to me how 俺 and 私 differ then? I'm quite confused. Also,
this is for a boy, just in case anyone wonders.
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2011-12-04T11:22:27.177
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2011-12-04T16:02:42.143
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grammar particles particle-の particle-が particle-は
How do I say "I am the best" ? の,は or が and 私 or 俺?
I'd say the closest to satisfying would probably be:

> 俺が一番

with possible variants:

> 俺が一番ですよ etc.

Keeping in mind that, no matter what, the phrase in question is going to sound
silly (at best) and somewhat boastful verging on rude, I think waffling over
the propriety of 俺 in this case is rather out of place. 私 would probably be
too soft, and 僕: ridiculously out of place.

I don't think a Japanese would use '一番' in such a context. If anything, the
kind of person who would say that (whether seriously or in jest) would
probably use some manner of English ("俺がナンバーワン" etc.), but I doubt that would
really satiate your friend's craving for something weird and foreign to write
on a t-shirt.

PS: '俺様' could also be used here, I think. It is more pompous than rude (well:
rude, _because_ pompous), but once again: calling yourself 'the best' on a
t-shirt has already established that quite clearly already.
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2011-12-04T14:40:32.963
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As you correctly note, the `が` in this context adds focus to the noun phrase:

> 私が一番  
>  ' **I** am the best.' or 'The best one is **me** '
>
> 私は一番  
>  'I am the **best**.'

`[私]{わたくし}` is very formal and polite, and is not usually used other than in
business conversations, `[私]{わたし}` is neutral with politeness, `俺` is rough,
and `俺様` is self-appraising. Any of them will work with `は` or `が`.

`私の一番` does not make sense. `俺様一番` without the particle `が` really sounds like
a funny phrase made up by a non-Japanese speaker, the kind that indeed is
often seen printed on T-shirts or tatoos.
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2011-12-04T15:48:17.207
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2011-12-05T00:43:03.443
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I would consider using a different word then `一番`. To me, it feels like the
thing you are the best _at_ is ommitted. If you wanted to use `一番` I'd go with
something like `一番かっこいい` (the coolest).

My suggestion would be to use `最高{さいこう}` or `最良{さいりょう}` instead.

As for `僕` vs `俺` I think it really has to do with the kind of guy your friend
is. If he's big and gruff, you can go with `俺` and if he's not, go with `僕`.
Personally (without having met him, of course) I'd lean toward `僕` as it's
more flexible.

So what I'd suggest would end up being `僕は最高`.

Hope that helps!
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2011-12-07T22:31:29.343
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