How do I say "I am the best" ? の,は or が and 私 or 俺?


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.




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.




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.

