Introducing Yourself
Japanese Basic Conversation 1
Chapter 2 Β· Introducing Yourself
π€ Introducing Yourself β γγγγγγγ
Now you can greet people, so let's tell them who you are. In this chapter you'll learn to introduce yourself, ask someone's name, use the right title (γγ and friends) and say the all-purpose phrase γγγγγγγγγγΎγ. Romaji is shown under every line of Japanese.
β First Meeting (polite) β γ―γγγΎγγ¦
A:
γ―γγγΎγγ¦γγγͺγγ§γγγγγγγγγγγγΎγγ
Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you. I'm Tanaka. Please treat me well.
B:
γ―γγγΎγγ¦γγγ£γͺγγγ§γγγγ‘γγγγγγγγγγγγγγΎγγ
Hajimemashite. Firippu desu. Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you. I'm Philip. The pleasure is mine.
β‘ Asking a Name β γγͺγΎγγ―οΌ
A:
γγͺγΎγγ― γͺγγ§γγγ
Onamae wa nan desu ka.
What is your name?
B:
γγ£γͺγγγ§γγ
Firippu desu.
I'm Philip.
A:
γγ£γͺγγγγγγ§γγγ
Firippu-san, desu ne.
Philip, is that right?
B:
γ―γγγγγ§γγ
Hai, sΕ desu.
Yes, that's right.
β’ At the Hotel Desk β γγγ«γ§
A:
γγγ£γγγγΎγγγγͺγΎγγ―οΌ
Irasshaimase. Onamae wa?
Welcome. Your name, please?
B:
γͺγΉγγγ’γ―γ§γγ
Osutoromoku desu.
It's Ostromok.
A:
γͺγΉγγγ’γ―γγΎγ§γγγ
Osutoromoku-sama desu ne.
Mr Ostromok, is that right?
B:
γ―γγγγγ§γγ
Hai, sΕ desu.
Yes, that's right.
β£ Saying You're Pleased β γγγγγ§γ
A:
γγγγ§γγ¦ γγγγγ§γγ
Oaidekite ureshii desu.
I'm pleased to meet you.
B:
γγ‘γγγγ
Kochira koso.
Likewise.
β€ A Work Meeting β γγγγγ§
A:
γ―γγγΎγγ¦γγγγγ― γγͺγγ¨ γγγΎγγ
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Tanaka to iimasu.
Nice to meet you. I'm called Tanaka.
B:
γ―γγγΎγγ¦γγγγγ― γγ£γͺγγγ¨ γγγΎγγ
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Firippu to iimasu.
Nice to meet you. I'm called Philip.
A:
γγ£γͺγγγγγ§γγγγγγγγγγγγγΎγγ
Firippu-san desu ne. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
You're Philip, aren't you? Pleased to work with you.
β₯ Meeting Someone Your Age (casual) β γ¨γγ γ‘γ«
A:
γ―γγγΎγγ¦οΌγγγ§γγ
Hajimemashite! Aya desu.
Nice to meet you! I'm Aya.
B:
γΌγγ― γ±γ³γ§γγγγγγοΌ
Boku wa Ken desu. Yoroshiku!
I'm Ken. Nice to meet you!
A:
γγγγγοΌ
Yoroshiku ne!
Nice to meet you too!
ποΈ Key Phrases β γγγγ€γͺ γ²γγγγ
| Situation | Japanese | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nice to meet you (first time) | γ―γγγΎγγ¦ hajimemashite | lit. "for the first time"; said once, at the start |
| I am β¦ | γγ§γ β¦ desu | the simplest, polite way: γγ£γͺγγγ§γ |
| I am called β¦ | γγ¨ γγγΎγ β¦ to iimasu | a little more formal: lit. "I say β¦ " |
| Please treat me well | γγγγγγγγγγΎγ yoroshiku onegai shimasu | said at the end of a self-introduction |
| Likewise; the pleasure is mine | γγ‘γγγ kochira koso | the standard reply to γγγγ |
| What is your name? | γγͺγΎγγ― γͺγγ§γγ onamae wa nan desu ka | short: γγͺγΎγγ―οΌ |
| I'm pleased to meet you | γγγγ§γγ¦ γγγγγ§γ oaidekite ureshii desu | warm and a little formal |
𧱠Sentence Patterns β γΆγγγ
One tiny word does the work of "am", "is" and "are": γ§γ. The little word γ― (read wa) marks the topic: "as for meβ¦".
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| [Name] γ§γ | γγ£γͺγγγ§γγ Firippu desu. | I'm Philip. |
| γγγγ― [Name] γ§γ | γγγγ― γγ£γͺγγγ§γγ Watashi wa Firippu desu. | I (as for me) am Philip. |
| [Name] γ¨ γγγΎγ | γγ£γͺγγγ¨ γγγΎγγ Firippu to iimasu. | I'm called Philip. |
| [Name]γγ γ§γγ | γγ£γͺγγγγγ§γγγ Firippu-san desu ka. | Are you Philip? |
Japanese Often Leaves Out "I" and "You"
γγγγ― γγ£γͺγγγ§γ is correct, but Japanese speakers often drop γγγγ― when it's obvious who is being talked about: γγ£γͺγγγ§γ is the natural way to introduce yourself. And you almost never say "you" (γγͺγ): use the person's name plus γγ instead.
π© Titles for Names β γγγγγΎγγγγγ‘γγ
In Japanese you attach a title to a name. Get this right and you'll sound polite from your very first conversation.
| Title | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| γγ -san | the everyday polite title: for anyone, any gender, never for yourself | γγͺγγγ Tanaka-san |
| γγΎ -sama | very respectful: customers, guests, formal letters | γͺγΉγγγ’γ―γγΎ Osutoromoku-sama |
| γγ -kun | boys, younger colleagues, among friends | γ±γ³γγ Ken-kun |
| γ‘γγ -chan | small children, close friends, pets | γγγ‘γγ Aya-chan |
π€ Three More Verbs β γ©γγ
| Verb | Present (polite) | Negative | Past |
|---|---|---|---|
| to say; to be called (γγ) | γγγΎγ iimasu | γγγΎγγ iimasen | γγγΎγγ iimashita |
| to meet (γγ) | γγγΎγ aimasu | γγγΎγγ aimasen | γγγΎγγ aimashita |
| to ask (γγ) | γγγΎγ kikimasu | γγγΎγγ kikimasen | γγγΎγγ kikimashita |
π Vocabulary β γγ
20 key words. Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji.
| # | Japanese | Romaji | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γ―γγγΎγγ¦ | hajimemashite | nice to meet you | phrase |
| 2 | γγγ | watashi | I; me | noun |
| 3 | γͺγΎγ | namae | name | noun |
| 4 | γγͺγΎγ | onamae | your name (polite) | noun |
| 5 | γγͺγ | Tanaka | Tanaka (a common surname) | noun |
| 6 | γγ | -san | Mr / Ms (polite title) | noun |
| 7 | γγΎ | -sama | Mr / Ms (very respectful) | noun |
| 8 | γγ | -kun | title for boys and juniors | noun |
| 9 | γ‘γγ | -chan | title for children and close friends | noun |
| 10 | γ§γ | desu | is; am; are (polite) | verb |
| 11 | γ§γγ | desu ka | is itβ¦? (question) | phrase |
| 12 | γ―γ | hai | yes | phrase |
| 13 | γγγ | iie | no | phrase |
| 14 | γγγ§γ | sΕ desu | that's right; it is so | phrase |
| 15 | γγγγ | yoroshiku | please treat me well (casual) | phrase |
| 16 | γγγγγγΎγ | onegai shimasu | please | phrase |
| 17 | γγ‘γγγ | kochira koso | likewise; the pleasure is mine | phrase |
| 18 | γγγΎγ | iimasu | to say; to be called | verb |
| 19 | γγγΎγ | aimasu | to meet | verb |
| 20 | γγγγ | ureshii | happy; glad | adj |
Real Japanese Tip β Family Name First
In Japan names are written and said family name first: γγͺγ γγγ is Mr Tanaka, Taro (family name Tanaka, given name Taro). When you introduce yourself in Japanese, though, foreigners usually say their given name first or just their given name, as in the dialogs above. Both are understood: γγ£γͺγγγ§γ is perfectly natural.
γγ Is Never Used for Yourself
Never put γγ after your own name: γγ£γͺγγγγγ§γ would be like saying "I'm Mr Philip" about yourself. It's for other people. Use plain γγ£γͺγγγ§γ for yourself, and add γγ when you talk to or about someone else.
γ―γγγΎγγ¦ and Business Cards
γ―γγγΎγγ¦ literally means "for the first time" and is used only at a first meeting. In a work setting, introductions usually include a bow and the exchange of business cards (γγγ), which are handed over with both hands and read carefully, never shoved in a back pocket.
γΌγ, γγγ and Casual Speech
In Chapter 8 of Hiragana 2 you met γΌγ (casual, boys and men). In a real introduction γγγ is the safe choice for everyone. You'll hear γΌγ from friends your age, as in the last dialog, and γγ (very casual) in anime: understand them, but don't use them yet.
Kanji Spotlight β ε (and ε)
γͺγΎγ ("name") is normally written εε. ε (na, mei) means name, and ε (mae, zen) means before, in front. Together they literally mean "front name", the name that comes first. See the kanji page for ε βΈ
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. You meet someone for the first time at work. What do you say first?
Show answer
γ―γγγΎγγ¦γ (Hajimemashite.)
2. Introduce yourself with your own name, then ask them to treat you well.
Show answer
(Your name)γ§γγγγγγγγγγγγΎγγ For example γγ£γͺγγγ§γγγγγγγγγγγγΎγγ
3. Someone says γγγγγγγγγγΎγ. What is the standard reply?
Show answer
γγ‘γγγγ (Kochira koso.)
4. Ask a stranger politely what their name is.
Show answer
γγͺγΎγγ― γͺγγ§γγγ (Onamae wa nan desu ka.) or γγͺγΎγγ―οΌ
5. Which title would a hotel clerk use for a guest named Ostromok?
Show answer
γͺγΉγγγ’γ―γγΎ: -sama, the very respectful title.
6. Why is γγ£γͺγγγγγ§γ wrong when you introduce yourself?
Show answer
γγ is for other people, never for yourself. Say γγ£γͺγγγ§γ.
Coming Up in Chapter 3
Numbers, ages and contact details: counting from 0 to 100, giving your age with γγγ, and saying a phone number. You'll meet the two readings of 4 and 7 that trip up every learner.