👋 Japanese Self-Introductions - じこしょうかい
Master the art of introducing yourself in Japanese! Self-introductions are crucial in Japanese culture and follow a specific pattern. Learn the essential phrases and cultural context to make a great first impression.
🎯 The Standard Introduction Pattern
Japanese self-introductions follow a predictable, polite structure that makes them easy to learn and use. Here's the step-by-step pattern:
📋 Standard Introduction Steps:
- 1. はじめまして - Opening greeting
- 2. わたしは[name]です - State your name
- 3. [nationality]じんです - Say your nationality
- 4. [age]さいです - State your age (optional)
- 5. [occupation/school info] - Your work or studies
- 6. よろしくおねがいします - Polite closing
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Sample Introduction Dialog
Dialog: Here is an introduction between an exchange student, Alice, and a Japanese student, Yamada.
Japanese:
Alice:
Yamada:
Alice:
English Translation:
Alice: Nice to meet you. I'm Alice. I'm American. I'm 19 years old. I'm a second-year student. I'm majoring in psychology. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Yamada: Nice to meet you. I'm Yamada. I'm Japanese. I'm 21 years old. I'm a third-year student. I'm majoring in business. Nice to meet you.
Alice: Yamada, it's nice to meet you.
📋 A basic self-introduction typically includes:
- 1. Saying hello
- 2. Stating your name
- 3. Saying where you're from
- 4. Stating your age
- 5. Talking about your occupation, school year, or major
- 6. Closing politely
👋
はじめまして
はじめまして is a set phrase in Japanese used the first time you meet someone. It's often translated as "Nice to meet you," but its literal meaning is closer to "This is our first time (meeting)." The root of the word, はじめ, comes from the verb はじめる, meaning "to begin." So, はじめましてexpresses the beginning of a new relationship or interaction.
📚 Cultural Note:
The phrase has its roots in classical Japanese court language and literature, where expressing the nature of first encounters was especially important in formal settings. Over time, it became a standard greeting in modern Japanese, reflecting the importance placed on etiquette and social harmony.
わたしは
わたしは is one of the most common ways to say "I am…" in Japanese. The word わたし is a first-person pronoun that means "I" or "me," and is widely used in formal and polite situations, regardless of gender. It is often the first pronoun learners encounter and is considered standard in most contexts.
📝 Grammar Note:
The は (pronounced "wa" here) is the topic particle. Rather than marking the subject as in English, it marks the topic of the sentence—the thing you're going to talk about. So when you say わたしは, you're essentially saying, "As for me..." or "Speaking of myself..." This sets up the rest of your sentence to describe something about yourself.
💡 Examples:
- わたしはアリスです。 - I am Alice.
- せんこうはしんりがくです。 - (My) major is psychology.
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🌍
~じん
~じん is a common and essential suffix in Japanese used to indicate a person's nationality or ethnic identity. It is attached to the end of a country name to mean "a person from ___."
🗺️ Examples:
- アメリカ = America
- アメリカじん= an American person
- にほん = Japan
- にほんじん= a Japanese person
🎓
~せい
The suffix ~せい is used in Japanese to describe a person's school year or educational level. It is attached to a number or school type to say what grade or year a student is in.
📚 Examples:
- こうこうせい= high school student
- いちねんせい= first-year student
- にねんせい= second-year student
📖
せんこう
せんこう means "major" or "field of study" in Japanese. It refers to the academic subject that a college or university student is focusing on. The word comes from two kanji:
🔤 Etymology:
- 専 (せん) - meaning "exclusive" or "specialized"
- 攻 (こう) - meaning "to attack" or "pursue" (in this context, "to study intensely")
💡 Examples:
- せんこうはしんりがくです。= I major in psychology.
- せんこうはビジネスです。= I major in business.
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🎂
~さい
~さい is a suffix used in Japanese to indicate a person's age. It is attached to a number to express how old someone is.
❗ Note: Pronunciation Exceptions
Some numbers have special readings when combined with さい:
Number | Hiragana | Romaji | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | いっさい | issai | Not ichi-sai |
8 | はっさい | hassai | Not hachi-sai |
20 | はたち | hatachi | Special term for 20 years old |
📝 Note: Small つ - Sokuon
The small つ, written as っ, is called the そくおん, and it indicates a glottal stop or pause—like a brief moment of silence before the next consonant. It effectively doubles the consonant that follows it.
Compare and see if you can hear the difference:
- さか= slope
- さっか= author
🙏
よろしくおねがいします
よろしくおねがいします is a fundamental phrase in Japanese that is often translated as "Nice to meet you," "Please take care of me," or "I look forward to working with you." However, it doesn't have a direct English equivalent. The word よろしく means "favorably" or "well," and おねがいします comes from the verb ねがう, meaning "to wish" or "to request." Together, the phrase expresses a humble request for kindness, cooperation, or goodwill in a new relationship or collaboration.
Practice Quiz
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