Introductions in Japanese

自己紹介など

With a level of formality higher in Japan than in the English-speaking world, introductions are an important linguistic ritual in Japanese. Fortunately, you can keep it fairly simple.

Basic Greetings

Good morning おはようございます (ohayo gozaimasu)

Hello (in the afternoon) こんにちは (kon-nichiwa)

Hello/good evening こんばんは (konbanwa)

Introducing Yourself

My name is Smith スミスです (Sumisu desu)

I'm from England イギリスから来ました／イギリス出身です　(igirisu kara kimashita, or, igirisu shusshin desu)

There are four people in my family 四人家族です (Yon nin kazoku desu)

I have two children 子供が二人います (kodomo ga futari imasu)

My daughter is ten years old　娘は十歳です (musume wa ju sai desu)

I work at Kyoto University 京都大学で働きます (kyoto daigaku de
hatarakimasu)

I teach English in the Law Faculty 法学部で英語を教えます (hogakubu de
eigo o oshiemasu)

All Important

At the end of your introduction, you should say:

Nice to meet you/I am beholden to you 宜しくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu)

"Yoroshiku onegai shimasu" is a reflexive and very important phrase, and cannot be translated into English easily. You will hear it often--and should use it often.


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