Foundation • Introductions

👋 Japanese Self-Introductions - じjiこkoしshiょyoうuかkaいi

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.

Cultural Importance!

Japanese introductions are more formal than in many cultures. They show respect and help establish your social position and relationship with others.

🎯 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

Sample Introduction Dialog

Dialog: Here is an introduction between an exchange student, Alice, and a Japanese student, Yamada.

Japanese:

Alice:

はhaじjiめmeまmaしshiてte。.わwaたtaしshiはhaアaリriスsuでdeすsu。.アaメmeリriカkaじjiんnでdeすsu。.じjiゅyuうuきkiゅyuうuさsaいiでdeすsu。.にniねneんnせseいiでdeすsu。.せseんnこkoうuはhaしshiんnりriがgaくkuでdeすsu。.どdoうuぞzoよyoろroしshiくkuおoねneがgaいiしshiまmaすsu。.

Yamada:

はhaじjiめmeまmaしshiてte。.わwaたtaしshiはhaやyaまmaだdaでdeすsu。.にniほhoんnじjiんnでdeすsu。.にniじjiゅyuうuいっiさsaいiでdeすsu。.さsaんnねneんnせseいiでdeすsu。.せseんnこkoうuはhaビbiジjiネneスsuでdeすsu。.よyoろroしshiくkuおoねneがgaいiしshiまmaすsu。.

Alice:

やyaまmaだdaさsaんn、,よyoろroしshiくkuおoねneがgaいiしshiまmaすsu。.

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haじjiめmeまmaしshiてte

はhaじjiめmeまmaしshiてte 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haじjiめme, comes from the verb はhaじjiめmeるru, meaning "to begin." So, はhaじjiめmeまmaしshiてteexpresses 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waたtaしshiはwa

わwaたtaしshiはwa is one of the most common ways to say "I am…" in Japanese. The word わwaたtaしshi 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wa (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waたtaしshiはwa, 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waたtaしshiはwaアaリriスsuでdeすsu。. - I am Alice.
せseんnこkoうuはwaしshiんnりriがgaくkuでdeすsu。. - (My) major is psychology.

🌍

～～じjiんn

～～じjiんn 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aメmeリriカka = America
アaメmeリriカkaじjiんn= an American person
にniほhoんn = Japan
にniほhoんnじjiんn= a Japanese person

🎓

～～せseいi

The suffix ～～せseいi 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koうuこkoうuせseいi= high school student
いiちchiねneんnせseいi= first-year student
にniねneんnせseいi= second-year student

📖

せseんnこkoうu

せseんnこkoうu 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seんn) - meaning "exclusive" or "specialized"
攻 (こkoうu) - meaning "to attack" or "pursue" (in this context, "to study intensely")

💡 Examples:

せseんnこkoうuはwaしshiんnりriがgaくkuでdeすsu。.= I major in psychology.
せseんnこkoうuはwaビbiジjiネneスsuでdeすsu。.= I major in business.

🎂

～～さsaいi

～～さsaいi 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saいi:

Number	Hiragana	Romaji	Notes
1	いっiさsaいi	issai	Not ichi-sai
8	はwaっっさsaいi	hassai	Not hachi-sai
20	はwaたtaちchi	hatachi	Special term for 20 years old

📝 Note: Small つtsu - Sokuon

The small つtsu, written as っ, is called the そsoくkuおoんn, 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saかka= slope
さsaっっかka= author

🙏

よyoろroしshiくkuおoねneがgaいiしshiまmaすsu

よyoろroしshiくkuおoねneがgaいiしshiまmaすsu 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yoろroしshiくku means "favorably" or "well," and おoねneがgaいiしshiまmaすsu comes from the verb ねneがgaうu, 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

Section Selection Phase 1 Assessment