Nina’s Dual Speech Styles#

Originally rough in her speech, Nina learns refined language upon entering the palace. This contrast highlights how polite versus casual speech creates very different impressions, giving learners a clear sense of both styles in action.

Source: RIKACHI, Nina the Starry Bride (KODANSHA)

Examples of Polite Speech Toward Superiors#

Set largely within the royal palace, the manga is filled with examples of formal language. Servants speak politely to Nina and Prince Azure, while even Nina and Azure themselves use honorific speech when addressing the king or princess—offering plenty of real-world examples of respectful language in hierarchical settings.

Source: RIKACHI, Nina the Starry Bride (KODANSHA)

Not Just for Boys: The Meaning Behind Boku and Ore#

In Japanese, the choice of first-person pronoun carries strong social and gendered nuance:

・わたし (watashi) – Gender-neutral or feminine, polite and standard.
・あたし (atashi) – Casual and feminine.
・ぼく (boku) – Gentle, humble, and traditionally used by boys or young men.
・おれ (ore) – Rough, assertive, very masculine.

When girls use boku or ore, it challenges these expected roles. These speech styles don’t necessarily imply confusion about gender. Instead, they can reflect:

・A tomboyish personality
・A cool or intellectual image
・An alternative, creative identity
・A subtle resistance to gender norms

This isn’t just a fantasy or anime trope—it appears in real-life Japanese too, both past and present.

Real-World Boku-kko: Not a New Trend#

While pop culture introduced the term “ボクっ娘,” women who use boku in real life have existed for decades—especially in artistic, queer, or countercultural spaces.

For example:

・Writers and musicians have historically used boku in interviews or lyrics to signal emotional distance, intellectualism, or personal flair. ・Queer or androgynous individuals may use boku or ore as part of their authentic speech. ・TV personalities, like Ano-chan (あのちゃん), use boku to express a quirky or vulnerable persona.

Fictional Examples: From Goddesses to Detectives#

What About オレっ娘 (Ore-kko)?#

Far less common than boku, ore is a brash and informal masculine pronoun. Girls who use it tend to be extremely bold, rebellious, or defiant. An ore-kko character might appear in punk subcultures, yakuza parodies, or over-the-top comedies—but is rarely seen in real life.

That said, some real women do use ore—typically as part of a deliberate and expressive persona, not casual speech.

What Language Learners Can Take Away#

Understanding boku and ore beyond the surface helps learners grasp:

・The fluidity of gendered language in Japanese
・How characters’ speech reflects personality
・The rich expressive power of pronoun choice

While you probably shouldn’t start calling yourself ore if you’re trying to sound polite, being aware of these patterns adds nuance to how you listen, read, and interpret Japanese.

Next time you hear a girl say boku, consider: what kind of story is she trying to tell?

Nina’s casual speech can be rough#

When speaking with those who know her true identity, like Azure, or with people she feels no need to impress, Nina reverts to her blunt, informal way of speaking. Learners should be cautious not to imitate these rough expressions in real-life conversations.

Source: RIKACHI, Nina the Starry Bride (KODANSHA)