初めまして。私は (name) です。よろしくお願いします。Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (name)  desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

1. The first, quick way, to introduce yourself.

Everyone uses this. It’s used when meeting new people.

1. Nice to meet you – Hajimemashite – 初めまして

2. My name is (name). (There can be several variations.)

i. I am (name). Watashi wa (name) desu. 私は (name) です。

ii. My name is (name) – Watashi no namae wa (name) desu – 私の名前は

(name)です。

iii. I’m (name) – (name) desu – (name)です。(Note: this is very casual)

3. Please treat me well – Yoroshiku onegaishimasu – よろしくお願いしま

す。

i. What in the world is – Please treat me well? Well, it is a rough

translation and has no equivalent in English. This is simply a set

phrase you need to use in such encounters. Why? Because

Japanese language. Because politeness. And because why wouldn’t

you be treating a new person well?

So, here’s your script you might want to use.

初めまして。私は (name) です。よろしくお願いします。Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (name)  desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

2. The second way to introduce and talk about yourself.

In other words, this is your elevator pitch that you’ll use over and over

when you need to talk about yourself. In Japanese, this is called a

jikoshoukai (自己紹介) or self-introduction, that’s a lot more detailed than

the method we used above. And it’s often used in group settings when

everyone has to say a little about themselves.

In general, this second method is very useful to know – because now you

can talk about yourself!

1. Hello,nice to meet you.

2. My name is ……

3. I am from …….

4. I am …… years old.

5. I am a (student/occupation).

6. I’ve been learning Japanese for…

7. I am learning Japanese because…

8. Please treat me well.

Here’s how you introduce yourself in Japanese.

1. Hello,nice to meet you.

i. Hello – konnichiwa – こんにちは

ii. Nice to meet you – Hajimemashite – 初めまして

2. My name is ……

i. Watashi wa (name) desu. 私は (name) です。

3. I am from …….

i. (Place) kara kimashita. (Place) からきました。

a. Use it to say where you’re from.

ii. Amerikajin desu. アメリカ人です。

a. In case you want to say your nationality. I am American.

4. I am …… years old.

i. Watashi wa (age) sai desu. 私は(age)歳です。

5. I am a (student/occupation).

i. Watashi wa (position) desu. 私は(position)です。

a. I am a student: Watashi wa gakusei desu. 私は学生です。

ii. Watashi no shigoto wa (job) desu.　 私の仕事は(job) です。

a. My job is programming: Watash no shigoto wa puroguramingu

desu.  私の仕事プログラミングです。

iii. (Job) o shiteimasu. (Job)をしています。

a. Just means “I’m doing (job),” as if you’re answering “What do

you do.”

6. I’ve been learning Japanese for…

i. Watashi wa (time)kan nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu. 私は (time)間

日本語を勉強しています。

a. example: 1 year. Watashi wa ichi nen kan nihongo o benkyou

shiteimasu. 私は 一年間日本語を勉強しています。

7. I am learning Japanese because…

i. Watashi wa (reason) da/kara, nihongo o benkyoushiteimasu. 私は

(reason) だ/から、日本語をべんきょうしています。

a. example: Because you’re interested in Japan.

a. Watashi wa nihon ni kyoumi ga aru kara, nihongo o

benyoishiteimasu. 私は日本に興味があるから、日本語をべんきょう

しています。

8. Please treat me well

i. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu – よろしくお願いします。

So, here’s your introduction script you might want to use.

こんにちは, 初めまして。私は (name) です。私は(age)歳です。私の仕事は(job) です。私は (time)間日本語を勉強しています。 私は(reason) だ/から、日本語をべんきょうしています。よろしくお願いします。

Or, if can’t you read yet and just want to say it out loud:

Konnichiwa, Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (name) desu. Amerikajin desu.

Watashi wa (age) sai desu. Watashi no shigoto wa (job) desu. Watashi

wa (time)kan nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu. Watashi wa(reason) da/kara,

nihongo o benkyoushiteimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

When you meet or leave someone

Hello. Konnichiwa.

Pronounce　"n"　and　"ni"　separately.　It's　like　"kon-nichiwa".

Good　morning. Ohayō gozaimasu.

The　last　vowel　"u"　is　not　pronounced　ly.　It's　like　"gozaimas".

Informal:　Ohayō.

Good　evening. Konbanwa.

Used　at　the　beginning　of　the　conversation,　not　at　the　end.

Good　night. Oyasuminasai.

Informal:　Oyasumi.

Goodbye. Sayōnara.

In　general,　used　when　people　will　not　see　each　other　for　some　time.

Informal:　Sayonara.　(short　"o"　after　y).

See　you. Dewa mata.

See　you　tomorrow. Dewa　mata ashita.

See　you　next　week. Dewa　mata raishū.

dewa:　well,　now　or　so

mata:　again

When you thank or apologize to someone

Thank　you. Arigatō gozaimasu.

Thank　you　very　much. Dōmo arigatō　gozaimasu.

Thank　you.　(past) Arigatō　gozaimashita.

Thanks. Dōmo.

The　last　vowel　"u"　is　not　pronounced　ly.　gozaimas(u).

Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.:　To　emphasize.

Arigatō gozaimashita.:　To　thank　for　something　in　the　past.

Dōmo.:　To　thank　for　a　small　favor.

Informal:　Arigatō.

You're　welcome. Dōitashimashite.

Don't　mention　it. Iie.

Iie.　(literally　means　"No.")　also　can　be　used　with　the　rising　accent　if　it's　not　a　big　deal.

Excuse　me. Sumimasen.

Yes. Hai.

Used　when　you　talk　to　someone,　and　to　apologize　for　small　faults　(Sorry.).

Hai.　(Yes.)　can　be　used　to　answer　someone's　call.

I'm　sorry. Gomennasai.

I'm　sorry. Dōmo sumimasen.

Don't　be　sorry. Iie.

Dōmo sumimasen. is　also　used.　It　sounds　more　polite.

As　a　response, Iie. can　be　used　if　it's　not　a　big　deal.

When you start or finish eating

(before　eating) Itadakimasu.

Literally　means　"I　accept　(the　food)".　Used　when　you　start　eating　as　a　signal　"Let's　

start".

You　can　say　this　to　the　person　who　is　treating　you　the　meal.

(after　eating) Gochisōsamadeshita.

Literally　means　"It　was　a　wonderful　feast".　Used　when　you　finished　eating.

You　can　say　this　to　thank　the　person　who　treated　you　the　meal.