Introducing Yourself in Japanese
How to introduce yourself in Japanese (jikoshōkai): the three-line self-introduction, your name, where you are from, and the right closing.
- Lines you need
- 3
- Opening
- はじめまして (hajimemashite)
- Closing
- よろしくおねがいします
- Your own name
- No さん
The three-line self-introduction
はじめまして。(Hajimemashite.) Nice to meet you. Say it only the first time you meet someone.
ジョンです。(Jon desu.) I'm John. Your name goes before です. Foreign names are usually written in katakana.
よろしくおねがいします。(Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.) This closes the introduction. It has no direct English translation: it asks the other person to treat you well from now on, and it is the standard last line.
Saying your name
〜です (desu) is the simple polite form. 〜といいます (to iimasu, "I am called…") is a little more formal and is common in self-introductions: ジョン・スミスといいます。(Jon Sumisu to iimasu.)
Japanese names put the family name first, and in formal settings people often introduce themselves by family name only.
Do not add さん (san) to your own name. さん is a polite title for other people.
わたしは (watashi wa, "I") is optional. It is already clear who you mean, so most people leave it out.
Adding a few facts
Where you are from: カナダからきました。(Kanada kara kimashita.) I'm from Canada. Literally, "I came from Canada." You can also say カナダじんです (Kanada-jin desu), "I'm Canadian."
What you do: がくせいです。(Gakusei desu.) I'm a student. かいしゃいんです。(Kaishain desu.) I work for a company.
A hobby: しゅみはりょうりです。(Shumi wa ryōri desu.) My hobby is cooking.
Your Japanese: にほんごをべんきょうしています。(Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu.) I'm studying Japanese.
How polite to be
よろしく (yoroshiku): casual, for friends or people your own age.
よろしくおねがいします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu): the safe default for almost every first meeting.
どうぞよろしくおねがいいたします (dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu): very polite, for job interviews and formal business.
A complete example
はじめまして。ジョンといいます。カナダからきました。だいがくせいです。しゅみはアニメです。どうぞよろしくおねがいします。
Hajimemashite. Jon to iimasu. Kanada kara kimashita. Daigakusei desu. Shumi wa anime desu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Nice to meet you. My name is John. I'm from Canada. I'm a university student. My hobby is anime. I look forward to getting to know you.
Related reading
- Essential Japanese phrases
- Japanese greetings
- Japanese pronouns
- Why Japanese leaves out I and you
- The masu form
Common questions
What does jikoshōkai mean?+
自己紹介 (じこしょうかい, jikoshōkai) means self-introduction. In school, at work and in Japanese classes you may be asked to give one.
Do I say hajimemashite every time?+
No. Use it only at a first meeting. The next time, use a normal greeting such as こんにちは (konnichiwa).
How do I say my age?+
Use the counter さい (sai): にじゅうごさいです (nijūgo-sai desu), I'm 25. Twenty is a special reading: はたち (hatachi).
Can I just say my first name?+
With friends and in casual groups, yes. In formal settings, give your family name, or your full name with the family name first if you are Japanese.
