japanese self introduction essay

Your Step-by-Step Jikoshoukai Guide Learn the basics, practice, and create an advanced Japanese self-introduction

October 11, 2016 • words written by Mami Suzuki and Michael Richey • Art by Aya Francisco

Viewing under The Tofugu JET Program Guide

When you start learning Japanese or are visiting Japan for the first time , there are few words to learn right away:

Once you've mastered those three, you need to learn your jikoshoukai.

Jikoshoukai 自己紹介 （ じこしょうかい ） is the Japanese word for "self-introduction." In theory, this is similar to how you would introduce yourself in your own culture. Say hello, say your name, tell a little about yourself. But in practice, there are cultural differences and set procedures you should stick to. You only get one first impression, so it's important to learn how to do it right.

We'll start by teaching you the basic Japanese self-introduction, then cultural subtleties, and finally a ton of extra grammar and vocabulary you can use to talk about yourself with your new Japanese friends.

Jikoshoukai Vocabulary

Writing your jikoshoukai, 1. first name and family name, 2. occupation, 3. don't talk about yourself too much, 4. bowing vs. handshake, 5. holding your hands behind your back, 6. don't bow while talking, business cards, "nice to meet you", "please be kind to me", where you are from, your school, where you live, hobbies and proficiencies, plans for the future, only the beginning, how to jikoshoukai.

Going to Japan, but don't know Japanese? Don't worry. You can jikoshoukai. The Japanese self-intro has a standard order and set phrases, so even beginners can meet and greet in Japanese.

• How do you do?

The set phrase hajimemashite 初めまして （ はじ　　　　 ） either comes from the verb hajimeru 始める （ はじ　　 ） , which means "to start," or it's a shortened form of 初めて （ はじ　　 ） お 目 （ め ） にかかりまして. Though etymologists aren't sure of the word's true origin, hajimemashite implies beginning or doing something for the first time . Most people think of it as saying "How do you do?" or "Nice to meet you."

• 私 （ わたし ） は [name] と 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。
• My name is [name].

The breakdown of this sentence is easier than it looks. It has three parts:

• 私 （ わたし ） は - The first word 私 means "I" or "me." It's followed by the particle は which indicates the topic of the sentence. In this case, 私 is the topic.
• [name] - Your name.
• と 申します （ もう　　　 ） - One meaning of the verb 申す is "to be called." It's paired with the particle と and conjugated to 申します。 This is a polite phrase, so it's safe to use in almost any situation.

When you put them all together, you get something along the lines of "I am called [name]" or "My name is [name]."

• よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します。
• Please be kind to me.

The final piece of the puzzle is よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します. It doesn't translate well to English, which is why we wrote a whole article about it . In a self-intro situation, it means something like "Please be kind to me." It's often translated as "Nice to meet you." This isn't technically correct, though it carries a similar feeling.

Now that you've got the basic building blocks down, it's time to put it together. At its simplest, the jikoshoukai sequence is:

• はじめまして。 私 （ わたし ） は (name) と 申 （ もう ） します。よろしくお 願 （ ねが ） いします。
• How do you do? My name is (name). Please be kind to me.

See? Not so hard. When you're getting ready to meet Japanese people for the first time, write this out and practice until it flows. If you're a beginner at Japanese , you don't need any more than this.

Jikoshoukai Etiquette

It's great to know the words to say when introducing yourself in Japanese, but how you say those words will make or break your jikoshoukai.

There are cultural differences to be aware of. They're subtle, so if you miss them it probably won't be counted against you. But paying attention to details like these can give you an extra social edge when you first meet a new Japanese friend.

In English, people usually introduce themselves by their first names or full names. When you give your full name, the first name comes first and the family name afterward.

In Japanese, people usually introduce themselves by their family names or full names. When they introduce their full name, the family name comes first and the first name comes second.

Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

In English, when you asked what you do for work, you give a brief summary of your job, or the name of your profession.

In Japan, it's common to answer only, " 会社員 （ かいしゃいん ） です。" (I'm an office worker./I work for a company./I'm a salaryman.)

However, if you introduce yourself to someone in a business setting, mention your company in your self-intro. For example:

• Tofuguのコウイチと 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。
• I'm Koichi from Tofugu.

This concept goes along with our next point…

Japanese people sometimes say lightly self-deprecating things as a form of humility, but it's usually followed by something positive (or the positivity is implied). For example:

• 至らない点が多いかもしれませんが、頑張りますので、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します
• I might have many flaws, but I'll do my best so please be kind to me.

You don't have to say anything like this (in fact, we advise you don't), but the point is this: Japanese people usually keep their strengths on the down-low.

So try not to show off too much. Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

In the West, if you're meeting someone one-on-one, you shake hands.

In Japan, don't move in for the handshake, especially if your status is the same or lower than the person you're meeting. In Japan, handshakes are for equals, so if you try to shake hands with the Emperor, it would be considered rude. Bow instead, and do so at the beginning and end of your jikoshoukai.

In Japan, holding your hands behind your back signals importance, so it may make you look full of yourself. Put your hands in front of you (the left hand on top of the right), or put your hands beside you.

This is a no-no from our Japanese bowing guide . Do your bowing after giving your self-introduction. Make sure to finish saying "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" and then bow.

Business cards in Japan are called meishi 名刺 （ めいし ） , and are an important part of Japanese culture. Even outside of the business world, Japanese people sometimes have personal meishi made (meishi means "name card" after all).

We covered meishi etiquette in our article about Japanese work customs , but here are the rules again in a jikoshoukai context.

Orient your card toward the recipient. Give and receive meishi with two hands.

Put meishi in a carrying case: You can buy business card carrying cases online or at any department store in Japan. If you don't have a case, you can carefully put the meishi in your purse or wallet after you've received it. Just don't put it in your pocket.

Use two hands: Orient your card toward the recipient when presenting. Hold the top edge with both hands. When they offer their card, accept it with two hands. Try not to cover any words with your fingers either. Some Japanese people are taught that a meishi is the "face" of the person giving it, so you don't want to cover theirs or your own.

When you and your new friend offer each other meishi at the same time: Present your card with your right hand, while simultaneously receiving theirs with your left.

Read meishi you receive: Read the person's name and title on the card before you put it away. Make sure to show interest in what they do. Act at least a little bit impressed with their job title.

When exchanging meishi in a group, give to the most senior person first: Start by giving your business card to the shachou, then fukushachou, and so on down the chain of command .

Treat meishi with respect: Use common sense and treat meishi like you would a gift. Don't toss or write on them.

Expanding the Basic Jikoshoukai

Maybe you've been doing your Japanese self-intro for years, repeating the same three set phrases over and over. Maybe you've read this guide before and have the basics down pat. You're ready to level up!

Below are example sentences you can mix into your standard jikoshoukai to give it more flavor, and make your self-intro a memorable one.

Earlier we learned how to use はじめまして (nice to meet you, how do you do). Here's a few ways to add to this set phrase.

• こんにちは。はじめまして。
• Hello. Nice to meet you.
• みなさん、はじめまして。
• Nice to meet you, everyone.
• みなさん、こんにちは。はじめまして。
• Hello everyone. Nice to meet you.

For a formal situation, you should say both your first and last names. In a casual situation, it's common to say only your family name for Japanese people.

If you're an English teacher on something like the JET Program , your school might want you to give your first name when you introduce yourself to the students. Ask your supervisor what's appropriate for the situation.

Below are several ways to introduce your name, organized by politeness in ascending order.

• 私 （ わたし ） の 名前 （ なまえ ） はマイケルですが、みんなにはマイクって 呼ばれて （ よ　　　 ） います。
• My name is Michael, but most people call me Mike.
• I'm Michael.

Very Formal:

• マイケルと 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。

Very Formal/Business:

• Tofuguのマイケルと 申します （ もう　　　 ） 。
• I'm Michael from Tofugu.

When you end your jikoshoukai, you'll use a phrase that means "Please be kind to me" or "Remember me favorably." But once you've got a handle on the standard " yoroshiku onegaishimasu ," you can move on to more casual or more formal variations. Below we've organized them by politeness level in ascending order.

Polite/Business:

• どうぞ、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） します。
• よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 致します （ いた　　　 ） 。

Very Polite/Business:

• どうぞ、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 致します （ いた　　　 ） 。

Formal/Business:

• よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 申し上げます （ もう　あ　　　 ） 。
• どうぞ、よろしくお 願い （ ねが　 ） 申し上げます （ もう　あ　　　 ） 。

Custom Jikoshoukai Modification

From here we get into the fun stuff. After expanding on the initial three pieces of the Japanese self-introduction, you can start adding information about yourself, short sentences that explain where you're from, what you like to do, and so on.

These jikoshoukai modifications will help people get to know you faster when you first introduce yourself. This is especially important as you start to make more Japanese friends, go on dates, or have job interviews.

Telling where you're from is always a good addition to a self-intro. Even if you don't use it during the initial jikoshoukai, your new Japanese friend will probably ask you anyway, so memorizing a few of these phrases is extra useful.

Two quick vocabulary usage notes: First, the word shusshin 出身 （ しゅっしん ） mean's "person's origin," and refers more to the place you were born or grew up than where you currently live. It's often used for specific places like a city, state, or prefecture, rather than a country. For example, Mami was born in Osaka, and now lives in Canada. But she spent most of her life in Nara, so she says " 奈良県 （ ならけん ） の 出身 （ しゅっしん ） です。" or " 出身 （ しゅっしん ） は 奈良県 （ ならけん ） です。"

Second, the verb mairu 参る （ まいる ） is a more humble form of kuru 来る （ く　 ） or iku 行く （ い　 ） . So when 参る （ まい　 ） is used to talk about where you came from in "アメリカから 参りました （ まい　　　 ） ," it's much more humble, so use it in appropriate situations.

• アメリカの 出身 （ しゅっしん ） です。
• I'm from America.
• アメリカから 来ました （ き　　　 ） 。
• アメリカから 参りました （ まい　　　　 ） 。
• オレゴン 州 （ しゅう ） のポートランドから 来ました （ き　　　 ） 。 生まれ （ う　　 ） も 育ち （ そだ　 ） もポートランドです。
• I'm from Portland, Oregon. Born and raised.
• 生まれ （ う　　 ） は 大阪 （ おおさか ） ですが、 育ち （ そだ　 ） は 東京 （ とうきょう ） です。
• I was born in Osaka, but grew up in Tokyo.
• 育ち （ そだ　 ） はニューヨークです。
• I grew up in New York.
• 田舎 （ いなか ） で 育ちました （ そだ　　　　 ） 。
• I grew up in the countryside.
• 生まれ （ う　　 ） は 東京 （ とうきょう ） ですが、 十歳 （ じゅうさい ） の 時 （ とき ） に 大阪 （ おおさか ） に 引っ越しました （ ひ　こ　　　　 ） 。そして、 大学 （ だいがく ） に 入る （ はい　 ） 時 （ とき ） に、 名古屋 （ なごや ） に 引っ越して （ ひ　こ　　 ） 来ました （ き　　　 ） 。
• I was born in Tokyo, but moved to Osaka when I was ten, and lived there until I entered university, which is when I came to Nagoya.
• 小さい （ ちい　　 ） 時 （ とき ） 、 家族 （ かぞく ） が 何度も （ なんど　 ） 引っ越した （ ひ　こ　　 ） ので、 私 （ わたし ） には 育った （ そだ　　 ） 場所 （ ばしょ ） というのはないんです。
• My family moved a lot when I was little, so I'm not really from anywhere.

School, from elementary up through university , is a big part of Japanese life. Be prepared to have people ask alma mater and what you studied. Or cut them off at the pass by including the information in your jikoshoukai.

• Ⓐ 大学 （ だいがく ） Ⓑ 学部 （ がくぶ ） Ⓒ 科 （ か ） の 出身 （ しゅっしん ） です。
• I graduated from the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
• Ⓐ 大学 （ だいがく ） Ⓑ 学部 （ がくぶ ） Ⓒ 科 （ か ） の 学生 （ がくせい ） です。
• I'm a student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
• Ⓐ 大学 （ だいがく ） Ⓑ 学部 （ がくぶ ） Ⓒ 科 （ か ） の 二年生 （ にねんせい ） です。
• I'm a second year student of the Ⓒ department of the faculty of Ⓑ of Ⓐ University.
• オレゴン 大学 （ だいがく ） で、 二年間 （ にねんかん ） 東 （ ひがし ） アジアの 歴史 （ れきし ） を 専攻 （ せんこう ） していました。
• I studied East Asian history at Oregon university for two years.

Occupation is a common conversation topic when meeting someone new. If you're doing business in Japan (or want to), you'd better learn at least one of these phrases.

A quick grammar usage note: some of these jikoshoukai example sentences use the continuous state conjugation of suru する （ ） which is shiteimasu しています （ ） . If you want to get extra polite with any of these sentences, swap out しています with shiteorimasu しております （ ） . One easy switch and you're ready to tell CEOs and presidents about your work situation.

• Tofuguで 編集長 （ へんしゅうちょう ） を しています 。
• I'm the chief editor of Tofugu.
• トヨタで 営業 （ えいぎょう ） を 担当 （ たんとう ） しています 。
• I'm working in sales at Toyota.
• 会計課 （ かいけいか ） に 配属 （ はいぞく ） になりました、 佐藤 （ さとう ） です。
• I'm Satou , assigned to the accounts department.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 会社員 （ かいしゃいん ） です。
• I'm an office worker.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 英語 （ えいご ） の 教師 （ きょうし ） です。
• I'm an English teacher.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 英語 （ えいご ） を 教えています （ おし　　　　　 ） 。
• I teach English.
• 私 （ わたし ） はこの 学校 （ がっこう ） で 英語 （ えいご ） を 教えます （ おし　　　 ） 。
• I'm going to teach English at this school.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 東 （ ひがし ） フグ 小学校 （ しょうがっこう ） で 働いて （ はたら　　 ） います。
• I'm working at East Fugu Elementary School.
• 私 （ わたし ） は 東 （ ひがし ） フグ 小学校 （ しょうがっこう ） に 勤めて （ つと　　 ） います。
• I'm working for East Fugu Elementary School.

"You live around here?" is a common question no matter the culture. Be ready to answer questions about your living situation with these sentences.

• 東京 （ とうきょう ） に 住んで （ す　　 ） います。
• I live in Tokyo.
• 東京 （ とうきょう ） 駅 （ えき ） の 近く （ ちか　 ） に 住んで （ す　　 ） います。
• I live near Tokyo station.
• 東京 （ とうきょう ） 駅 （ えき ） の 近く （ ちか　 ） のマンションに 住んで （ す　　 ） います。
• I live in an apartment near Tokyo station.

Hobbies are super important part of life in Japan. Japanese junior high and high school students take school club activities seriously ( sometimes more than academics ) and this passion often continues into adult life. If you have a hobby, that is your "thing." Even if you don't think of your interests as "hobbies," describe them as such anyway. It will help people understand you better . Alternatively, you can say what you like and don't like.

• 趣味 （ しゅみ ） は[____]です。
• My hobby is [____].
• 趣味 （ しゅみ ） は[____]することです。
• My hobby is to do [____]
• [____]が 趣味 （ しゅみ ） です。
• [____]することが 趣味 （ しゅみ ） です。
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]が 好き （ す　 ） です。
• I like [____]
• [____]も 好き （ す　 ） です。
• I also like [____]
• [____]は 好き （ す　 ） ではありません。
• I don't like [____]
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]することが 好き （ す　 ） です。
• I like to do [____]
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]が 得意 （ とくい ） です。
• I'm good at [____].
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]することが 得意 （ とくい ） です。
• I'm good at doing [____].
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]が 苦手 （ にがて ） です。
• I'm not good at/I don't like [____](noun)
• 私 （ わたし ） は[____]することが 苦手 （ にがて ） です。
• I'm not good at doing [____].

What do you want to be when you grow up? What new skills are you trying to develop? What are you going to eat for lunch tomorrow? Answer these questions and more with the example sentences below.

Grammar usage note: the noun tsumori つもり （ ） is used to tell what you plan to do. It's most commonly used in situations where you've already made up your mind. It's definite. Don't use it for instances where you're kind of maybe thinking about something, but you're not sure yet.

• [____]ようと 考えて （ かんが　　 ） います。
• I'm thinking about doing [____].
• [____]したいと 思って （ おも　　 ） います。
• I'd like to do [____].
• [____]つもりです。
• 私 （ わたし ） の 目標 （ もくひょう ） は[____]です。
• My object is [____].
• [____]に 挑戦 （ ちょうせん ） したいと 思って （ おも　　 ） います。
• I'd like to challenge [____].

Now you know what it takes to put together a stellar jikoshoukai in Japanese. Put the pieces together, mind the cultural differences, and practice till its second nature.

With a solid self-intro on your side, you're poised to start your relationships right. Just don't forget your business cards.

Japanese Writing Lab #1: Basic self-introduction

In a recent post I announced I would be starting a new program on my blog called “Japanese Writing Lab” that aims to motivate people to practice writing in Japanese, provides feedback on their writing, and allows them to see posts of other Japanese learners. This article represents the first writing assignment of that program.

For this assignment, I’d like to focus on a very common, but important topic: self-introduction, known as 自己紹介 (jiko shoukai) in Japanese.

Self-introductions can range widely from formal to casual, and from very short (name only) to much longer. This time, I’d like everyone to focus on writing a basic self-introduction whose main purpose is to actually introduce yourself to me and others in the group. So while it is a writing exercise, it actually serves an important purpose as well. Try to keep it brief (a few sentences is fine) and stick more to written language as opposed to spoken language. For example, you would avoid using things like “あの。。。” which you might say if you actually spoke a self-introduction.

For those who are comfortable writing a self-introduction in Japanese, you can go ahead and get started. If you have written one recently, I suggest you try to write one again from scratch without referring to it unless you really get stuck.

Once you finish this writing assignment please post it via one of the two following methods:

• For those who have a blog (WordPress or anywhere else is fine): post it on your blog, and post a comment on this article including a link to your post. I also suggest adding a link on your post back to this article, so people who find your post can follow it to read other people’s submissions.
• For those who don’t have a blog: simply post it as a comment to this article with the text you’ve written. [Note: creating a blog is pretty easy and free on many sites, so if you have a few minutes I’d just consider just trying to create a blog]

I’ll be reading through the submitted assignments and will try to make constructive comments. I highly recommend for everyone submitting to read other people’s submissions.

For those who are not too familiar with how to write self-introductions in Japanese, here is a general template to help you get started (taken from this Japanese website). If you want to do your own research on how to write a self-introduction, that is fine as well. Feel free to omit any of the below categories, for example if you don’t want to discuss where you live.

Keep in mind that for a self-introduction in Japanese, it is usually best to use at minimum basic polite language, like ~です and ~ます, since you aren’t likely to be on very familiar terms with those you are speaking to.

General template for  basic self-introduction

僕（私) の名前は [your name here] です。

• Place where you live (住所)

住所は[place where you live]というところです。

• Hobbies (趣味)

趣味は [one or more of your hobbies]です。

仕事は「your current job」をしています。

• Positive ending

[try to think of something positive to close with]

My submission

For each assignment I will give my submission as well, to help give you ideas. Feel free to send me questions or comments about my submission.

For this assignment I’ll keep things pretty simple and mostly follow the template I gave above, but in future assignments I’ll start using more advanced language and get more creative.

僕の名前はlocksleyuです。

住所はオレゴン州のポートランドですが、先週までは南フロリダに住んでいました。

趣味は色々ありますが、最近は日本の小説を読んだりチェスをやったりしています。

仕事はソフトウェア開発をしています。

このクラスで日本語の文章力を向上できたらいいと思います。

よろしくお願いします。

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22 thoughts on “ Japanese Writing Lab #1: Basic self-introduction ”

Hi – I put together a WordPress site today so I could participate in this, and also to encourage me to write in Japanese.

Here’s my basic self introduction article: https://bokunojapanese.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/japanese-writing-lab-1-basic-self-introduction/

I tried once yesterday and once just now to post here and I am not seeing anything getting through. Are these comments moderated? Is there some other issue? I’m sick of retyping my introduction 🙁

The comments are moderated (that is the default setting of WordPress) but I check very often and approve pretty much all comments except for Spam. For some reason I didn’t see any of your comments from yesterday, only two from today.

I’ll read your other comment and respond now.

OK, this blog doesn’t seem to accept Japanese characters as comments (I just tried a third time).

I’m sorry that you are experiencing trouble. I’ll try to do my best help you out so we can get this solved (:

I have used Japanese before in comments. Let’s test now:

こんにちは [<- can you read this?] What happens when you try to write Japanese characters? Can you please make a post like this with some Japanese and some English so I can see what it looks like? Also, what browser/OS are you using? Can you try a variation of either? I am using Safari/Mac OS.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I’m reading that. The last three comments I have made that have included either all Japanese characters or a mix of Japanese and English have just…vanished. Like, I click “post” and the page refreshes but I don’t see my comment or even a “Your comment is pending” notification. I’m on Chrome on Mac OS, everything’s reasonably up to date.

Here’s a comment with English and hiragana only: こんにちは Thanks for helping me debug and sorry to be leaving so many comments on the blog ;_;

Here’s a comment with English, hiragana and kanji: こんいちは 漢字は難しいですが、大切です。

Everything looks great now, I can see all the characters fine (: I’m guessing that was just some temporary issue with WordPress.

You can go ahead and try to put your self-introduction now. Just make a backup copy in case it gets deleted again.

You’re not going to believe this, but it STILL isn’t posting. I was avoiding making a new blog because I thought it would be “more work” but now I’m thinking that would be simpler after all.

Thats so weird, I wonder why. Maybe if you make a longer comment it doesn’t like it?

I agree it will probably be easier at this point to create your own blog, and that will have other benefits for you in the future.

But if you still want to try and troubleshoot the original issue I can help…

The good news is that WordPress makes it really easy to set up a new blog these days. I guess in retrospect I should have done that to begin with. Thanks for your help trying to debug this issue! https://nihongonoheya.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/first-blog-post/

Great, glad you were able to make a blog so easily! Will check out your blog later today when I get more time.

Hi, I have been reading several of your articles with great interest. The first that lead me to you was your comments on ‘Hibana’ by Naoki Matayoshi. A friend of mine in Japan is reading this book and I was curious about its content. Your translation is amazing. To introduce myself I set up a site, above link, however it doesn’t really seem to be a blog as such, so I may need to change that later. Anyway it’s accepted the script ok so you should be able to read it. I hope to join in here to improve my Japanese. Thanks for your time, Sylvia

Thanks very much for the comment and feedback!

Also, I’m glad you are interested in joining my program. I checked out your site, but like you said it seems like it isn’t exactly a blog, so I am not sure if I will be able to comment. Without that, it will be hard for me to correct your writings (I found a few errors I wanted to point out).

If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind trying to create a blog on WordPress.com? It should be pretty easy and it’s free.

Hi, Thank you for your reply. I think I’ve sorted it OK. See link below, I’ve never done a blog before so this is new to me! https://kafuka97.wordpress.com/

I just copied what I wrote before, no changes. Many thanks, Sylvia

PS: I do have a website which I have sent a link to.

Hello! My name is Jheanelle, I just found your website today and I think I’ve already looked through have of it. Its amazing. I’m interested in doing the assignments but I don’t have a blog so I’ll post it in the comments section.

ジェネルと言います。今日本に住んで仕事にしています。私は英語の先生です。 色々な趣味があります。例えば、寝たり、韓国の番組を見たり、本を読んだりするのが好きです。 日本語もっと上手になりたいそしてこのブログを見つけて嬉しくなった

どうぞよろしくお願いします

Hello Jheanelle. I’m sorry for the late reply but your message was showing up in Spam on my blog for some reason.

Thanks for the submission. Right now I am sort of taking a break from the writing labs since I didn’t get too much response from my readers, but I will consider restarting them again at some point. There is a few others however I posted (up to #3 or #4, I think).

I hope your Japanese studies are going well.

One minor comment, in your sentence “今日本に住んで仕事にしています” I think maybe you could have said: “今日本で仕事をしています” or “今日本に住んでで仕事もしています”

These might sound a little better.

One more thing, I recommend watching Japanese dramas instead of Korean if you want to improve faster (:

Hello locksleyu, I just posted my self-introduction here: https://soreymikleo1421.wordpress.com/2021/05/21/japanese-writing-lab-1-basic-self-introduction/ Thank you in advance!

Thanks! I just posted a few comments.

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese! Jikoshoukai (自己紹介)

Are you going to live in Japan? Better prepare yourself with a Japanese self-introduction – a jikoshoukai. Early in your Japanese study, this language knowledge will help you establish yourself among Japanese friends and colleagues. 

In various contexts in Japan (such as school, work, parties, etc.) you will need to introduce yourself. What should you say? How do condense everything about yourself into just one or two minutes?

Do not be afraid, we will introduce step by step the way to give a successful Japanese jikoshoukai!

Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama . With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule , we ensure the students find their community here in Japan and learn practical and useful daily-life Japanese by focusing on conversational practice.

Introducing Yourself (Jikoshoukai) in Japanese

• How to Start a Self-Introduction Session

Where are you from?

Why do you study japanese, why are you in japan, interests and hobbies, the final step: yoroshiku, starting a self-introduction session in japanese.

Begin with a greeting and state your name. Whether you prepare to introduce yourself to a curious crowd of classmates or to one person, make sure to say hello first! Depending on the time of the day, you may say ohayou gozaimasu, konnichiwa, konbanwa. Do you know the difference? Or you can simply state “hajimemashite” – “nice to meet you.”

You can politely say your name with the to-be verb “desu”, or the verb “to say” (言います). In a more formal context, such as an interview, you should use a more formal structure. Note that Japanese people are used to giving their family name first and their given name second.

Casual: 私の名前はボンド・ジェームズ です。 Watashi nonamae ha bondo jieemuzu desu. My name is James bond. Polite: ボンド・ジェームズです。 Bondo, jieemuzu desu. I am James Bond. Polite: ボンド・ジェームズと言います。 Bondo, jieemuzu to iimasu. My name is James Bond. Formal: ボンド・ジェームズと申します。 Bondo, jieemuzu to moushimasu. I am James Bond.

Being a foreigner in Japan is always stimulating the imagination of Japanese. Whether you are from Spain, Germany or Australia, they will more likely give some exotic origins and be surprised to hear the truth. So the next step of your jikoshoukai is to introduce your country and eventually your city! Tips: if you are American and wish to precise your state, you will have to use shuu (州, しゅう).

イギリス（のロンドン）から来ました。 Igirisu (no rondon) kara kimashita. I came from London, England.

アメリカのカリフォルニア州から来ました。 Amerika no karifuorunia shuu kara kimashita. I came from California, in America.

You can also tell where you are from with the word for origins (出身, しゅっしん) or an even easier way would be to give your nationality by adding jin (人, じん) after a country’s name.

マドリッド出身です。 Madoriddo shusshin desu. I am from Madrid. パリ出身です。 Pari shusshin desu. I am from Paris. ドイツ人です。 Doetsu jin desu. I am German. インドネシア人です。 Indoneshia jin desu. I am Indonesian.

Obviously, this is the hot point of your introduction. Not only will Japanese be flattered, but they will be eager to know why you are studying their language. If you are confident enough, you can speak about for how long you have studied Japanese, how, where etc. .

日本の文化に興味があるから、日本語を勉強しています。 Nihon no bunka ni kyoumi ga aru kara, nihongo wo benkyou shite imasu. I am interested in the Japanese culture, that is why I study Japanese.

You could have closed earlier. But giving more details is the recipe for a good jikoshoukai, after which you will proudly answer the crowd’s questions. Many reasons might have led you to come to live in Kawagoe or in Sapporo. Whether you are in Japan for a short stay out of pure curiosity or for a longer commitment, you should say…

日本語を勉強するために日本に来ました。 Nihongo wo benkyou suru tame ni nihon ni kimashita. I came to Japan to study Japanese.

Whether you are a student or working, the “occupation” has an important place in Japanese culture. The Japanese you are introducing yourself to will not be surprised to hear you stating what you are doing. Students can say that they are studying at University or in a school or state that they are (university or not) students.

大学/学校で勉強しています。 Daigaku /gakkou de benkyou shite imasu.

（大）学生です。 (dai) gakusei desu.

If you are working, the following examples should help you prepare your introduction:

私の仕事は先生です。 Watashi no shigoto ha sensei desu. I work as a teacher.

英語の先生です。 Eigo no sensei desu. I am an English teacher.

スペイン語の先生をしています。 Supeingo no sensei wo shite imasu. I work as a Spanish teacher.

Depending on your level, you can always try to give a more rich jikoshoukai explaining in more details what you are studying or exactly doing at your workplace.

This part would be smart in a friendly context. If  you are meeting new people, it is always enjoyable to share your passions in Japanese. You can speak about your hobbies and what you like in various ways but the two easiest ones are the expression to like (好き, suki) and the word hobby (趣味, shumi).

料理好きです。 Ryouri suki desu. I like cooking.

趣味はスポーツです。 Shumi ha supottsu desu. My hobby is sport.

趣味は漫画を読むことです。 Shumi ha manga wo yomu koto desu. My hobby is to read manga.

We have spoken before of the wonders of the Japanese yoroshiku onegaishimasu an expression difficult to translate in other languages. A jikoushokai usually ends with this phrase, meaning in such context, that you look forward to the relationship with your new friends.

Casual: よろしく！ Yoroshiku! Nice to meet you!

Formal: 今後もどうぞよろしくお願い致します。 Kongo mo douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu I look forward to our relationship from now on.

Polite: どうぞよろしくお願いします。 Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu. I look forward to our relationship.

Proper etiquette is very important for Japanese culture. When introducing yourself, make sure that your manner is professional and appropriate. Japanese people usually do not shake hands in professional settings, so usually it is best to just bow instead. People usually bow once at the beginning and once at the end of their jikoshoukai. For casual interactions, handshakes are sometimes OK. Make sure to “read the air” of the situation to see if it it appropriate. In many professional settings, it is best to keep your hands at your sides while you are talking. And avoid crossing your arms if possible!

Now You Can Introduce Yourself in Japanese!

Now, you are ready for your very first jikoshoukai! Always remember that a self-introduction with a group of friends or with your new boss will be different. You can be casual with people of your age, but should always be formal in a business environment. Be even more prepared to give a strong and polite self-introduction for a job interview !

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How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese. EASY Phrases

Want to know how to introduce yourself in Japanese?

Quick and easy answer – just say:

• I am (name) .
• English Pronunciation: Watashi wa  (name) desu.
• Japanese: 私は (name) です。

But if you want to sound a little smarter… and introduce yourself the RIGHT way in Japanese…

…you should read on and see the FULL way to introduce yourself. And the beauty of this is…

If you learn to how to introduce yourself in Japanese, you can handle most simple Japanese conversations .

So, here’s what you’ll need for a self Japanese self introduction. You can also use this as a Japanese bio in your social profiles.

I’ll give you two ways.

The first one is a simple and easy one that most people use. It includes “my name is…” and “nice to meet you.” The second one is more lengthy where you can talk about yourself in more detail.

Way #1: The quick way to introduce yourself.

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

1. Nice to meet you – 初めまして

• English Pronunciation: Hajimemashite
• Japanese: 初めまして

“Hajimemashite (ha-jee-meh-mashte)” is how you say “nice to meet you” in Japanese. This word does not literally mean “nice to meet you” but it’s one of the many “ Japanese set phrases ” that are used without thinking.

2. My name is  (name) – 私は (name) です

There can be several variations.

You should also listen and hear real Japanese – Press play below. Try this   Free Lesson from JapanesePod101.com (click here to visit) for the complete explanation about introducing yourself!

Or, you can try this.

• My name is (name).
• English Pronunciation: Watashi no namae wa  (name) desu –
• Japanese: 私の名前は (name) です。

Finally, you can try the most casual way to introduce yourself in Japanese.

• I’m (name)
• English Pronunciation:  (name)  desu.
• Japanese: (name) です。 (Note: this is very casual)

Finally, you need this next final phrase.

3. Please treat me well – よろしくお願いします。

• English Pronunciation: Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
• Japanese: よろしくお願いします。

What in the world is “Please treat me well?”  It is a rough translation and has no equivalent in English. This is simply a “ Japanese set phrase ” that   you need to use in such encounters and first time meetings. Why? Because that’s how the Japanese language and culture work. Because politeness. And because why wouldn’t you be treating a new person well?

So, here’s your script you can 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.

You can use this safely as it’s quite polite. If you want to a super cool and casual introduction, then just drop a few words.

(name) です。よろしく。 (name)   desu. Yoroshiku.

Way #2 – the 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai)

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. It’s often used in group settings when everyone has to say a little about themselves. For example, you’ll hear this at work events or group dates.

This second method is very useful to know because now you can talk about yourself.

• Hello, nice to meet you.
• My name is ……
• I am from …….
• I am …… years old.
• I am a (student/occupation).
• I’ve been learning Japanese for…
• I am learning Japanese because…
• Please treat me well.

Here’s how to introduce yourself in Japanese with the full “jikoshoukai.”

1. こんにちは, 初めまして  – Hello, nice to meet you.

• Hello – konnichiwa – こんにちは

First, we have the word “konnichiwa” which is just a way to say hello in Japanese .

• Nice to meet you – Hajimemashite – 初めまして

2. (name) です My name is ……

• (name) desu.

So, if you’re Bob, you say “Bob desu.”

3. (Place) からきました。 I am from …….

• (Place) kara kimashita. (Place) からきました。
• Use it to say where you’re from.

Being able to talk about where are you from in Japanese is a must. Japanese people will also ask you so you should have an answer ready. Or, you can mention your ethnicity or nationality instead.

• Amerikajin desu. アメリカ人です。
•  I am American.

4. (age)歳です。 I am …… years old.

• (age) sai desu. (age) 歳です。

For this one, you will need to know Japanese numbers . Here are some random examples though:

• Ni juu go sai desu.
• Juu kyuu sai desu.
• Ni juu nana sai desu.
• San juu yon sai desu.

5. (position)です。 I am a (student/occupation).

Next, you may want to talk about what you do. Whether  you’re a student or working.

• I am a student: gakusei desu. 学生です。
• My job is programming: Watash no shigoto wa puroguramingu desu.  仕事プログラミングです。
• Just means “I’m doing (job), ” as if you’re answering “What do you do.”

6. I’ve been learning Japanese for…

This line is also good to know. If you’re decent, Japanese people will be impressed and will want to know how long you’ve been learning for.

• example: 1 year.  Ichi nen kan nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu. 一年 間日本語を勉強しています。

7. I am learning Japanese because…

Of course, being able to talk about your reason is also important. People will ask you.

• example: Because you’re interested in Japan.
• Nihon ni kyoumi ga aru kara, nihongo o benyoishiteimasu. 日本に興味があるから、日本語をべんきょうしています。

9. Please treat me well

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

This “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” is one of the most common Japanese set phrases that’s used all the time. You’ll hear it a lot. It has various meanings depending on the context, but here… it’s just “please treat me well” or “be good to me.” Don’t think it much here.

So, here’s your Japanese introduction script.

こんにちは, 初めまして。私は (name) です。アメリカ人です。 (age) 歳です。仕事は (job) です。  (time) 間日本語を勉強しています。 (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 you can’t read yet and just want to say it out loud:

Konnichiwa, Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (name) desu. Amerikajin desu. ( age) sai desu. Shigoto wa (job) desu. (Time) kan nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu. (Reason) da/kara, nihongo o benkyoushiteimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Conclusion – Back To You!

Did you notice that I took out all of the “watashi wa” from most of the sentences?

Why did I do that?

You should omit 90% of the “watashi’s” there to sound more natural.

After you said it once, people understand you’re talking about yourself. Japanese is a very context-heavy language and there’s no point in going “watashi wa… watashi wa… watashi wa…” in every sentence because you already set the context.

So, that’s how to introduce yourself in Japanese naturally.

And you can use the phrases above for your Japanese bio on your socials.

Here’s what you do now.

• Create your self introduction.
• Leave me a comment and introduce yourself.
• And start learning even more Japanese.

– The Main Junkie

P.S. For a similar guide, check out this other article: how to introduce yourself in Japanese .

P.P.S. I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!

[…] This is a great question to know as you will hear it millions of times. In your cause, someone may ask you and you will have to introduce yourself in Japanese. […]

[…] If you want be able to answer this question, then you’ll need to learn how to introduce yourself in Japanese. […]

[…] How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese: 2 Best Ways […]

I’ve never heard a Japanese person pause between saying their last name and first name. They always say both names together as if their names were just one long word and they blurt it out as fast as humanly possible. They say such a mouthful and are completely incomprehensible

Unless it’s a formal occasion, why do they need to give both names?

I always dread hearing their names.

初めまして。私の名前はケイリンです。アメリカ人です。１月にはじめて日本にいきます。私はXで作家です。6ヶ月間日本語をべんきょうしています。日本に住みたいから、日本語をべんきょうしています。よろしくお願いします。:D

初めまして。私の名前はケイリンです。アメリカ人です。１月にはじめて日本にいきます。私はXで作家です。6ヶ月間日本語をべんきょうしています。私は日本に住みたいから、日本語をべんきょうしています。よろしくお願いします。：D

I didnt really like to repeat watashi, watashi, watashi… sounds really bad. Could you teach us more ways of saying this for example “‘name’ to moushimasu” instead of using watashi so much, please? Thank you!

こんにちわ! ジョナサンさんです! よろしく!

please help me

はじめまして。私はワイクルー•ロリーです。ユタから来ました。23歳です。スノー短期大学の生徒です。1年生です。私は1年間日本語を勉強しています。まだ上手じゃありません。日本に興味があるから, 日本語をべんよいしています。よろしくお願いします。

こんにちは, 初めまして。私はAlexです。 Nice! Great lesson!

[…] Remember how to introduce yourself in Japanese?(click) It follows the same pattern. […]

[…] Japanese Phrases: How To Introduce Yourself in Japanese […]

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All You Need To Know

Today, we’ll teach you simple steps and give you tips on how to introduce yourself in Japanese .

If you’re meeting a Japanese for the first time, knowing how to introduce yourself in Japanese will help you leave a good impression. It’s also one way to impress your boss, colleagues, teachers, or classmates on your first day at work or school in Japan.

• 1.1 What is “self-introduction” in Japanese?
• 2.1 Good morning in Japanese
• 2.2 Good afternoon in Japanese
• 2.3 Good evening in Japanese
• 2.4 Nice to meet you in Japanese
• 3.1 “I am” in Japanese 
• 3.2 “My name is” in Japanese
• 3.3 “I am called” in Japanese
• 3.4 “I’m” in Japanese
• 4.1.1 からまいりました(kara mairimashita)
• 4.1.2 からです(kara desu)
• 4.1.3 すんでいます (sunde imasu)
• 4.1.4 しゅっしんです (shusshin desu)
• 5 Share information about yourself in Japanese
• 6.0.0.1 どうぞよろしくおねがいします (Douzo Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu)
• 7 Is it rude to shake hands?
• 8 Things to Remember!

How to introduce yourself in Japanese?

Japanese people usually start their introduction with greetings and a question that is similar to the English question, “How are you.” When introducing yourself in Japanese, you can do these first.

After doing these, you can say your name, where you live and then followed by other information you wish to share about yourself, such as your school if you are a student, occupation if you’re working and hobbies.

What is “self-introduction” in Japanese?

Self-introduction is じこしょうかい (Jikoshoukai) in Japanese, where じこ (Jiko) means self while しょうかい shoukai means introduction.

Japanese Greetings

The Japanese are taught the importance of the あいさつ Aisatsu or greetings from childhood. It is very important that you start your introduction with the correct and proper greeting. Remember to do your greeting with a simple bow. Bowing is a sign of respect and politeness in Japanese culture .

Below is a list of basic Japanese greetings you’ll use when introducing yourself to others.

Head over to our article on Japanese greetings to learn more about them.

Good morning in Japanese

There are two ways you can say “good morning” in Japanese.

The first way is おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu). It is a formal way of greeting someone “Good morning .”

The second ways is おはよう(Ohayou). However, it’s an informal greeting that has an equivalent meaning to “Morning” in English. You can use this when greeting your Japanese friends.

Good afternoon in Japanese

こんにちは(konnichiwa) is a phrase used by Japanese people to say “Good afternoon” or “ Hello .” This can be used in a formal or informal setting.

Good evening in Japanese

こんばんは (konbanwa) is the Japanese phrase used to say “Good evening.”

Nice to meet you in Japanese

The word はじめHajime means beginning or start. The phrase はじめまして(Hajimemashite) can be translated as “How do you do?”. It is usually the first phrase that one says when introducing oneself in Japan. It literally means “I am meeting you for the first time.” It’s the same Japanese phrase you’ll use if you want to say to someone, “Nice to meet you.”

You may also bow as you say this phrase. Japanese people have also adopted the Western style of handshake so you may do a handshake instead of a bow when saying this beginning phrase for self-introduction.

Saying your name in Japanese

There are three standard ways how you can say your name in Japanese. You can choose from any of the three below depending on the situation and occasion of your introduction.

Remember that in Japan, they say their surname first before they say their given name.

“I am” in Japanese 

One way to introduce yourself is by saying your name. You can usually say it with “I am” plus your name.

“I am” in Japanese is expressed with わたしは (watashi wa). When using わたしは (watashi wa) to say your name, you’ll usually end your sentence with です (desu).

です(desu) at the end of a sentence signifies politeness. Thus you’ll use the following sentence pattern:

わたしは (name) です.

This sentence pattern is one of the standard forms for saying your name.

For example:

わたしは Smith, John です。

Watashi wa Smith, John desu.

I am John Smith.

“My name is” in Japanese

Another way of saying your name is by using “My name is.”

“My name is” in Japanese is expressed as わたしのなまえわ (watashino namae wa). なまえ (namae) means “name” in Japanese. わたしの (watashino) is the Japanese counterpart of “My” so this makes わたしのなまえわ(watashi no namae wa) means “My name is”.

In order to complete this sentence, you’ll use the following sentence pattern:

わたしのなまえわ (name) です.

わたしのなまえわ (Watashi no namae wa) です.

Watashi no namae wa Smith, John Desu.

My name is John Smith.

“I am called” in Japanese

The formal way of saying your name in Japanese is using the phrase “I am called.” The phrase “I am called” in Japanese is ともうします (tomou shimasu).

This phrase is more formal and expresses humility when introducing oneself. It is usually used when you are introducing yourself to someone of higher rank/status.

ともうします (tomou shimasu) is usually placed at the end of the sentence. When using it, you should use the following sentence pattern:

(name) ともうします.

  Smith, John とも うします。

 Smith, John tomou shimasu.

I am called John Smith.

“I’m” in Japanese

When saying your name informally or in a casual way, you can use です (desu).

This means you can simply state your name and add です (desu).

This sentence pattern can be translated as “I’m” in Japanese.

This way is often used when you are introducing yourself to someone of the same age or status such as friends of your friend or in an informal occasion or meeting.

Saying where you’re from in Japanese

There are many different ways of saying where you’re from. Some of them depend on how polite or casual you’d like to say it.

からきました (kara kimashita)

からきました is used when telling someone where you’re from. This phrase is made of 2 words which are から meaning “from” and きました form the word きまし meaning “to come”. からきました literally means “I come from”.

To use this phrase, you’ll use the following sentence pattern:

(country) からきました.

Canada からきました .

Canada kara kimashita .

I am from Canada.

からきました(Kara Kimashita) means I am from. This standard way is the most often used in self-introductions in Japan. It is considered a simple and polite way of telling others where you are from.

からまいりました(kara mairimashita)

This Japanese phrase consists of 2 words: から and まいりました. As mentioned earlier から means “from”. まいりました (mairimashita) is from the word まいりまし (mairimasu) whose dictionary form is まいる (mairu) meaning “to come”. まいる is the formal word for “to come”.

(country) からまいりました.

Canada からまいりました .

Canada kara mairimashita .

からまいりました(Kara Mairimashita) is a more polite way of saying “I am from”. This way is often used when you are doing your introduction to someone of a higher rank/status. It is a more polite and humble way of telling people what country or place you are from.

からです(kara desu)

If you’d like to say where you’re from in a casual way, you can simply say your country , city, or hometown’s name and add からです.

(country, city, or hometown’s name) からです.

Canada からです .

Canada kara desu .

からです(kara desu) is an informal way of saying “I am from”. It is often used when you are introducing yourself to someone of the same age, status, or rank in society.

すんでいます (sunde imasu)

すんでいます (sunde imasu) means “I live in”. It is usually used when you are introducing yourself in a less formal environment/event.  You can use this phrase using the following structure:

(city or hometown’s name) すんでいます.

New York すんでいます .

New York sunde imasu .

I live in New York.

Tokyo すんでいます

Tokyo  sunde imasu .

I live in Tokyo.

This Japanese phrase comes from the word すんでいる (sunde iru) which means “to live”.

しゅっしんです (shusshin desu)

The word しゅっしん (shusshin) literally means “origin” or “hometown”. The phrase しゅっしんです (shusshin desu) means “my hometown, birthplace, or place of origin is”.

It is another formal way/polite way of saying where you are from. It is usually used when you are introducing yourself to someone older or someone in a higher rank/status in a company or school setting.

When using this to say about your hometown, birthplace, or place of origin, you’ll use the following structure:

(name of place) は しゅっしんです.

Madrid は しゅっしんです.

Madrid wa shusshin desu.

My hometown/birthplace/place of origin is Madrid.

Share information about yourself in Japanese

Your reason for being in Japan is most often stated in the self-introduction. It is also a way of telling a little bit of information about yourself. Including such private information makes your self-introduction more friendly and interesting.

わたしはりゅうがくせいです。

Watashi wa ryuugakusei desu.

I am an international/foreign student.

わたしのせんもんわにほんごです。

Watashi no senmon wa Nihongo desu.

My major is Japanese./ I am majoring in Japanese.

In the above examples above, the words りゅうがくせい means “foreign student” and せんもん (senmon) means “major” or “the area of specialization in one’s studies in Japan”.

Other せんもん (senmon) or majors in Japanese are the following:

えいご (Eigo) -English

きょういく(Kyouiku) -Education

すうがく(Suugaku)- Math

いがく(Igaku)- Medicine

Ending you じこしょうじゃい (jikoshoukai | self-introduction)

どうぞよろしくおねがいします ( douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu ).

The phrase どうぞよろしくおねがいします (Douzo Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu) formally ends your Japanese self-introduction. It can be translated as “nice to meet you or pleased to meet you” however its literal translation means “please be good to me/please take care of me”.

This ending phrase is very important because signifies that you are putting yourself in the care of the person to whom you have introduced yourself. The Japanese would often respond with a repeat of this phrase. Thus, this phrase signifies the start of a good relationship.

Is it rude to shake hands?

When meeting someone, shaking hands is uncommon or rather unusual among Japanese. They normally bow to greet each other.

Nowadays, as more and more foreigners are visiting or living in Japan, the Japanese are making exceptions for ways to greet someone. Shaking hands is acceptable and isn’t rude, especially in a business setup.

Things to Remember!

• Keep your self-introduction short but very informative.
• Be polite with your gestures and the tone of your voice.
• Say the words slowly and clearly. If your Japanese pronunciation is not that good yet, it’s okay, as long as you say the words clearly so others will understand you.
• When in doubt, always use the longer phrases for in Japanese, the longer the sentence or the phrases used, the more polite you are.
• If it is a choice between bowing and a handshake, always take a cue from the person you are introducing yourself to. If they bow, you should also bow yourself, and if they extend their hand, take it as a cue for a handshake.
• Be confident, be friendly and be sincere in your self-introduction.

Good luck with your self-introduction! Ganbatte ne! がんばってね！Do your best!

6 replies to "How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese – All You Need To Know"

It helps a lot .. thanks

Thanks for the comment, Mario! I’m glad that our article has been helpful to you. ^^ If you want more lessons, you can check our our blog post. ^^ You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

I like bowing, as being a Muslim, We also do not shake hands with opposite gender, In the name of business, we do not break our rules, whether the business or whatever, If Western knows to destroy culture, We know to have good conduct.

ありがとうございます。

Thanks for sharing! I’m glad that our blog has been valuable to you. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

These Japanese lessons are helping me a lot. I may be able to use it as I look forward to work in Japan in the future. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu!

Glad to hear that, Arwin! Thanks for your kind words. ^^

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How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese (Jikoshoukai)

Self-introduction (jikoshoukai) in English is considered to be pretty straightforward. Depending on whether it is a formal or an informal introduction, the choice of words is simple. For instance, if it’s an informal setting, you would say: “Hello there! I’m…”

Then, a handshake ensues, and the small talk begins. If you have enrolled for Japanese language lessons in Singapore, introducing yourself is most likely your first lesson in class. You must have noticed that it isn’t very different in Japanese. Also, just like in English, the setting is an important consideration when crafting an appropriate way to introduce yourself.

Here’s a look at some of the most common ways of introducing yourself in Japanese.

Greeting in Japanese

Japanese greetings aren’t all the same. The way you do it depends on the context in which you use them. For instance, when meeting someone for the first time, you would usually say ‘”O-genki desu ka?”‘ (How are you?). This is likely to be followed by an exchange of business cards.

If this exchange takes place at your job, then you can expect a more formal word of greeting like ‘”Ohayou gozaimasu!”‘ (Good morning). On your part, make sure that you follow up with an equally polite form of reply like “^_^ Genki desu.” If both parties possess the same level of formality, then it is customary to follow greetings with ‘”Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.”‘ (Please take care of me).

There are proper, improper, formal, and informal ways to greet in Japanese and in most other languages. As with the English language, so too does Japanese possess its own alternatives for ‘”How are you?”‘

How to say “hello” in Japan

Just like in English, greetings are governed by time and environment. Whether it is a formal or informal set-up, you’ll need to say hello in an appropriate way. If you want to speak and learn Japanese , you first need to know how to say hello in Japanese. You need to understand that one greeting does not fit all occasions.

Greetings are important when it comes to establishing contact with people. Also, the choice of words and its details depends on whether you are addressing Japanese friends, colleagues, or strangers. It is, therefore, necessary for learners of the Japanese language to master different ways of saying hello in Japan.

Greeting people the first time you see them during the day or night is another way to say hello. Here’s how you can say good morning and good evening in Japanese:

おはよう — Good morning

こんばんは — Good evening

How to Say “Nice to meet you” in Japanese

When speaking of introductions, it requires you to be on your best behaviour. Since interaction is usually the first thing that happens when meeting someone, you need to make a good impression by speaking politely. You can speak and learn how to say nice to meet you in Japanese depending on who it is that you are meeting for the first time.

For friends and family, you can say “O-tsukare sama deshita”. This is a casual Japanese way to say nice to meet you. If it is a colleague that you are meeting for the first time at your job, then saying “Gok shoukai shimasu” (Nice to meet you) in Japanese is the right thing to do.

Self Introduction in Japanese

During Japanese classes, you will learn that what you do is very important for Japanese people and their culture. Therefore, all introductions must include your career, position, and title. For instance, if you were to introduce yourself and say that you are a writer, you must mention that you are a writer, including your employer and your rank (supervisor, manager, etc.)

So, if you are attending Japanese classes for business purposes , learn how to say your profession and title in Japanese aside from your name too.

Suppose you are in an informal set-up. Maybe you’ve met up with a group of young Japanese people for a drink you can greet them in different ways. For instance, you can use:

おす！— Hey! (if you are among young men)

よぉ！— Yo! (used mainly by teenagers)

Then, proceed to introduce yourself. Remember to pronounce your name in Japanese.

Here’s how to introduce yourself in Japanese by saying the following phrases in both settings:

Stating Your Name (Using Watashi wa or 私 は)

When it comes to self-introductions, you need to introduce yourself by mentioning your name in your native language. The polite way of saying “my name is” to someone you just met is “Watashi no namae was_____ desu.” or Watashi wa ___ to moushimasu. (My name is ___). You can also say “To saru shimasu” or と 申 し ます which also has the same idea and meaning as the two phrases we just mentioned.

You can use this basic sentence or phrase when you want to introduce yourself in Japanese. However, if your name is long, it would be more appropriate if you shortened it and used “O-namae wa ___ desu.” If you are already comfortable with the person, you can informally say your name by saying ‘”Watashi wa ____ desu”‘ (I’m ____).

Where You’re From

When someone asks you where you are from, you can answer them by saying “Watashi wa ____ kara desu.” (I’m from _____). If you have a nationality, then you can say it. You can also add your city or your hometown after the word ‘”kara,”‘ which means “from.” You can do so by saying “Kara kimashita” – から 来 ま した which means “I came from ___).

When formally telling someone your job or occupation, you can say ‘Shigoto desu.” (I am a _____). If you are comfortable with the person you’re conversing with, you can tell them what is your occupation in an informal way by saying ‘Shigoto wa _____ desu.” which means “My occupation is _____.”

If you’re a student, you can say this by saying “Gakusei desu” which means “I’m a student”. If you want to tell someone about the school you attended, you can formally tell them by saying ‘”Gakkou de hataraita desu/hatarakaimashita”‘. This means I studied in _____.

If you want to tell someone about your current school, you can say it informally by saying, “Shukudai o suru gakkou wa _____ desu.” which means “My school is _____.”

When you want to formally tell someone your hobbies, you can say ‘”Shumi desu.”‘. If you are comfortable with the person you’re conversing with, you can tell them what is your hobby in an informal way by saying ‘O-shigoto wa _____ desu.’ which means “My hobby is ____”.

Ending the conversation

All conversations should come to an end. You can end it in Japanese by saying’ “O-tsukare sama deshita.”. This is a casual Japanese way to say nice to meet you.mWhen you want to end the conversation, you can say “doumo”. This means thank you in Japanese.

When ending conversations, you should say ‘Otsukaresama deshita.’ This means thank you for your hard work. You can also say Yoroshiku onegaishimasu or よろしく お願い し ます, which means, please be nice to me. People use this method to meet with their boss, adviser, or someone they want to add to their circle.

Informal (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu or よろしく お願い し ます)

Ending conversations in an informal set-up can be done by saying “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu” or よろしく お願い し ます which means Please be nice to me. People who use this basic phrase are those meeting with their new friends, classmates, or someone with who they want to be friends.

Etiquette is an important part of Japanese culture. From greeting them to offering your business card, there are some things you should consider. If you are meeting with someone older than you, you should bow your head slightly down until they look at you again. The length of the bow depends on how much respect an individual deserves for their age or position. Once they have looked up at you, it means that the conversation has ended and the other person is ready to leave now.

Here are some tips to show proper etiquette:

Don’t Talk About Yourself Too Much.

Refrain from talking too much about yourself. Keep conversations on an equal basis by asking questions back to whoever is talking with you and answering any questions that they may have for you. Once you are comfortable enough, start asking your own questions about their lives.

Bowing vs Handshake

Bowing and offering a handshake can show respect and express gratitude. In Japan, you can bow to anyone that is within your age range and of equal status/rank. This is an acceptable way to formally greet someone.

People who are superior or older than you should be bowed to with a short nod of the head. As for handshakes, it depends on who you are meeting. If you are meeting with someone that is older, then shaking their hand is not proper. It would be acceptable to bow while offering your hand for them to shake hands with you if they choose to do so

Holding Your Hands Behind Your Back

When one holds their hands behind their backs, this means that they are at ease. This is the most common way to introduce yourself in Japanese when you meet someone. It is also one of the very casual interactions when meeting someone for the first time in Japan.

Don’t Bow While Talking

Conversing with someone with your hands behind your back is a sign of respect, but if you bow while conversing with someone, then this means that you are very anxious or frightened. If you feel uncomfortable around the person for any reason, then bowing is fine. However, don’t be nervous just because it’s Japan.

When learning Japanese, you should know that introducing yourself in Japan is very much like introducing yourself anywhere else. You just have to start out slowly until you get accustomed to the culture and new language. Eventually, you’ll learn that there are many other ways to introduce yourself in Japanese.

On some occasions, like semi-formal meetings, reaching out to your counterpart is an appropriate and proactive way of introducing yourself. A popular way of doing this in English is by reaching out and saying, “Nice to meet you, I’m….”

An equivalent of this in Japanese would be はじめまして. It’s short, polite.

In conclusion, the key to Japanese self-introduction or jikoshoukai is to keep it short, concise and as relaxed as possible. When learning Japanese lessons , you should always remember that the way you introduce yourself rules if it’s a formal set-up. Also, keep in mind the tips we’ve mentioned to ensure that you are showing proper etiquette.

Tips To Help You Use Japanese Phonetics Like A Pro

Best tips on how to master the japanese language fast.

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Self Introduction in Japanese: Learn to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

Self-introduction, or “自己紹介” (jikoshokai) in Japanese, is an essential social skill in Japan. Whether you’re visiting Japan, meeting Japanese people, or just interested in the language and culture, knowing how to introduce yourself in Japanese is a valuable skill. In this blog post, we’ll explore the art of self-introduction in Japanese, from the basic structure to cultural nuances. We’ll also provide five examples of short self-introductions to help you get started.

The Basics of Self Introduction in Japanese

In Japan, introductions typically start with your name. When introducing yourself, say “私の名前は” (watashi no namae wa), followed by your name. For example, “私の名前は太郎です” (Watashi no namae wa Tarō desu) means “My name is Tarō.”

Sharing your age is common in Japanese self-introductions. You can say “歳です” (sai desu) to indicate your age. For instance, “私は25歳です” (Watashi wa 25 sai desu) means “I am 25 years old.”

3. Place of Origin

Mentioning where you’re from is also a typical part of self-introductions. Use “出身は” (shusshin wa) to say where you’re from. For example, “出身はアメリカです” (Shusshin wa Amerika desu) means “I am from America.”

4. Occupation

If you want to share your occupation, you can use “職業は” (shokugyō wa). For instance, “職業は教師です” (Shokugyō wa kyōshi desu) means “I am a teacher.”

5. Hobbies and Interests

Sharing your hobbies and interests is a great way to break the ice in Japanese self-introductions. You can say “趣味は” (shumi wa) followed by your hobbies. For example, “趣味は音楽を聴くことです” (Shumi wa ongaku o kiku koto desu) means “My hobby is listening to music.”

Cultural Nuances in Self-Introduction

Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on politeness and humility. When introducing yourself, keep the following cultural nuances in mind:

1. Use Honorific Language

In formal situations, it’s common to use honorific language, such as “です” (desu) and “ます” (masu), to show respect. For example, instead of saying “私は太郎です” (Watashi wa Tarō desu), you can say “私は太郎と申します” (Watashi wa Tarō to mōshimasu), which is a more polite version.

In Japan, bowing is a traditional way of showing respect. When introducing yourself, a slight bow is appropriate, especially in formal settings.

3. Avoid Bragging

Humility is highly valued in Japanese culture. When discussing your achievements, it’s best to understate rather than boast. For example, instead of saying “私は大学で優秀な成績を収めました” (Watashi wa daigaku de yūshū na seiseki o osamemashita), which means “I achieved excellent grades in university,” you can say “私は大学で勉強しました” (Watashi wa daigaku de benkyō shimashita), which means “I studied at university.”

Example of Self-Introductions in Japanese

Now that we’ve covered the basics and cultural nuances, let’s look at five examples of short self-introductions in Japanese. These examples will help you understand how to structure your self-introduction.

1. Japanese Self-Introduction 1:

Japanese: 私の名前は夏美です。出身は京都です。趣味は写真を撮ることと旅行です。

English: My name is Natsumi. I am from Kyoto. My hobbies are taking photos and traveling.

Pronunciation: Watashi no namae wa Natsumi desu. Shusshin wa Kyōto desu. Shumi wa shashin o toru koto to ryokou desu.

2. Japanese Self-Introduction 2:

Japanese: よろしくお願いします。私は翔太です。東京出身です。趣味はスポーツをすることと音楽を聴くことです。

English: Nice to meet you. I am Shota. I am from Tokyo. My hobbies are playing sports and listening to music.

Pronunciation: Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Watashi wa Shota desu. Tōkyō shusshin desu. Shumi wa supōtsu o suru koto to ongaku o kiku koto desu.

3. Japanese Self-Introduction 3:

Japanese: こんにちは！私の名前は美香です。神戸出身です。趣味は美術館巡りと映画鑑賞です。

English: Hello! My name is Mika. I am from Kobe. My hobbies are visiting art museums and watching movies.

Pronunciation: Konnichiwa! Watashi no namae wa Mika desu. Kōbe shusshin desu. Shumi wa bijutsukan meguri to eigakan kanshō desu.

4. Japanese Self-Introduction 4:

Japanese: ごきげんよう。私は千里です。大阪出身です。趣味は料理と釣りです。

English: Good day. I am Senri. I am from Osaka. My hobbies are cooking and fishing.

Pronunciation: Gokigen’yō. Watashi wa Senri desu. Ōsaka shusshin desu. Shumi wa ryōri to tsuri desu.

5. Japanese Self-Introduction 5:

Japanese: どうも、皆さん。私の名前は優太です。福岡出身です。趣味は読書とハイキングです。

English: Hello, everyone. My name is Yuta. I am from Fukuoka. My hobbies are reading and hiking.

Pronunciation: Dōmo, minasan. Watashi no namae wa Yuta desu. Fukuoka shusshin desu. Shumi wa dokusho to haikingu desu.

These self-introductions provide a range of information about the speaker, including their name, place of origin, and hobbies, which is a common format for self-introductions in Japanese.

Tips for a Successful Self-Introduction

• Practice Pronunciation : Japanese pronunciation can be challenging for beginners. Practice saying your self-introduction multiple times to improve your pronunciation.
• Learn Basic Phrases : Aside from your introduction, it’s helpful to know common greetings and phrases to continue the conversation.
• Pay Attention to Context : The level of formality in your introduction should match the context. In casual settings, you can be less formal, while in professional settings, a more polite introduction is appropriate.
• Ask About Others : After introducing yourself, it’s polite to ask the other person about themselves. You can use phrases like “お名前は何ですか？” (Onamae wa nan desu ka?), meaning “What is your name?”
• Maintain Eye Contact : When introducing yourself, maintain eye contact, which is a sign of respect in Japanese culture.

Self-introduction in Japanese is a fundamental skill that can open doors to meaningful connections and cultural understanding. By mastering the basics and understanding the cultural nuances, you’ll be well-prepared to engage in conversations with Japanese speakers. Remember to practice and adapt your introduction based on the context, and you’ll be on your way to building valuable relationships with people from Japan.

Drew is the creator of myselfintroduction.com, designed to teach everyone how to introduce themselves to anyone with confidence in any situation.

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How to introduce yourself in Japanese

How to introduce yourself in Japanese (Easy to detailed self introduction)

Whatever your reason for learning Japanese, you will probably end up in a lot of situations where you need to introduce yourself. Therefore, we have compiled a few sentence structures, some vocabulary and other important points you can use for your own self-introduction.

[How to start your self-introduction]

[stating your name].

[Stating where you are from]

[Stating your occupation]

[Stating your hobbies]

[Wrapping up]

“ 以上 いじょう です” is a somewhat stiff, formal way of ending your self-introduction. It’s best used in very formal settings, e.g. at your workplace if it has a rather formal environment.

Lastly, why don’t you revise Shiho’s own self-introduction and see if you can come up with something similar?

皆さん、初めまして。私はしほと言います。私は東京出身で、今も東京に住んでいます。私の趣味は外国の映画やテレビドラマを観ること。それから、美味しいものを探したり、食べたりすることです。好きな映画はほんっとにたくさんあるんですけど、特に好きなのは「キューティ・ブロンド」という映画です。この映画はもう何十回も観たことのある、私にとって特別な映画です。 好きな食べ物もすごくたくさんあります。特に好きなのはスイーツとか、和食、イタリア、それからタイ料理等の、エスニックですね。そういったものをよく食べています。 もっと色んな国の、色んな料理を食べてみたいなーといつも思っています。 あとは、運動したりとか、ショッピングをすること。それから、旅行に行ったり、カフェでのんびり本を読んだりするのもすごく好きです。 では、私の自己紹介はこれで終わりにしたいと思います。皆さん、よろしくお願いします。 If any of the grammar used in this article is unclear, head over to our full list of Japanese grammar reference.

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Jikoshoukai : self introductions in japanese.

Jikoshoukai : Self Introductions in Japanese : Hello everyone, today we are going to be learning how to Introduce yourself in Japanese. This is the perfect lesson for those of you just starting out and looking for a place to start with your Japanese learning or also a great opportunity for you guys who want to review your introductions.

• 1 Jikoshoukai : Self Introductions in Japanese
• 2.1 Jikoshoukai(自己紹介) – Starting Out
• 2.2.2 nationality
• 2.2.3 occupation
• 3.1 It’s Nice to meet you – Jikoshoukai(自己紹介) – Introductions in Japanese
• 3.2 Example Introduction Conversation
• 4 Side notes – Self Introductions in Japanese
• 5.1 So, how old are you? in Japanese
• 5.2 I am …… years old. in Japanese
• 5.3 Where are you from? in Japanese
• 5.4 Tell me about your occupation? in Japanese
• 5.5 What about your hobbies? in Japanese
• 6 Jikoshoukai(自己紹介) – Summary
• 7.1 Recommend
• 7.2 Related

In any case this is really important when it comes to meeting new people, interviews etc. Let’s dive right in and get started with the basics.

Simple Self Introductions in Japanese

Japan’s introductions are much more formal than the standard “hey, how you doing” of the western world. They follow certain patterns and are really a big deal when it comes to first impressions.

Jikoshoukai(自己紹介) – Starting Out

The best way to start is with a simple greeting. This can vary depending on the time of day, so let’s take a look at that. If you are greeting someone in the morning you can say おはようございます Ohayou Gozaimasu which means, “good morning”. If it is in the day time you can use こんにちは　 Konnichiwa which means, “good day”. Finally, if you are in the evening you can use こんばんは　Konbanwa, which means, “good evening”. So as you can see, depending on the time of day these initial greetings can change so make sure to take note of that before starting your greeting.

Talking about you in Japanese

• (私は) ◯◯ です。(My name is ◯◯)
• 私の 名前は ◯◯ です。

nationality

• (私は) ◯◯人 です。(I’m from ◯◯)
• ◯◯で 働いています。(I’m working for ◯◯)
• ◯◯で 勉強しています。

Self-introduction Japanese Phrases

Another thing to note when it comes to introducing yourself in Japanese are the different levels of formality that can be expressed. If it’s more of an informal, less casual situation you can say:

If it’s a more formal meeting such as with an interview or addressing a superior you can use:

Depending on the formality of the situation you can use either one to introduce yourself in Japanese.

A side note, if you want to introduce yourself with your full name, remember to use your family name first followed by your first name. This is of course opposite the customs of the western world.

It’s Nice to meet you – Jikoshoukai(自己紹介) – Introductions in Japanese

It’s nice to meet you is really something nice to say to make the other party feel welcome. That you want to talk to them and you are happy that they have just entered into your life. In Japanese you can say:

Or more politely

You can remember this as “nice to meet you” but it more directly translates into “Please be kind to me” or “Remember me favorably.” These are phrases that you can use after you have introduced yourself or heard the introduction of the other party.

Now lets put all of this together and look at an example conversation to help you remember and practice this simple Japanese introduction.

Example Introduction Conversation

So as you can see here this is how a nice casual introduction would play out. Not let’s take a look at something a little more formal.

Side notes – Self Introductions in Japanese

When it comes to hand shakes in Japanese introductions you should never just jump in for one like in the west. This is considered very rude and is usually used between people of equal status. When in Japan I would suggest that you stay away from hand shakes as much as possible. Maybe keep it handy for drunk salarymen but that’s about it.

Now Japan is very famous for the bow. You can use this in your introduction but only after you have finished speaking. Don’t use this mid-sentence as this will also come off rather rude .

Remember also not to talk about yourself too much either as this will really not give a good impression of you. Have respect for the other person’s time and be sure to look interested in what they have to say. Unless the person you are talking to has a lot of interest in your back story I would suggest to try and keep introductions as brief as possible.

So there we are, we’ve now covered the basics of introducing yourself in Japanese. In the next post we are going to be looking at taking this to the next level by adding in more complex introductory sentences such as expressing where you come from, age and occupation.

Complex Introductions in Japanese

We are going to be learning how to introduce yourself in Japanese with some more complex sentences and phrases. Not only are we going to be introducing where you come from and how old you are, we are also going to be looking at introducing hobbies and occupations in Japanese too.

This online Japanese lesson on complex introductions in Japanese is a continuation from the previous lesson “ Simple Introductions in Japanese ” so if you haven’t checked that out be sure to take a look before looking at this.

So guys strap yourself in and lets first take a look at introducing how old you are in Japanese.

So, how old are you? in Japanese

With every introduction, being able to tell someone how old you are is a vital aspect. No we are going to learn how to do this in Japanese so you can learn how to expand your Japanese introduction ability.

To do this you simply use the following phrase:

I am …… years old. in Japanese

In putting your age before “sai desu” will let the other person know how old you are and develop your introduction.

However just like in the western world it’s definitely considered rude to ask a lady her age. So fella’s remember your manners and be courteous.

Where are you from? in Japanese

So now it’s time to introduce where you are from in Japanese. Let’s first look at some countries to ensure you know how to say the name of your country in Japanese.

So now that you know have had a look on the country names you may now be able to know how to say your country in Japanese, if you didn’t already before.

To introduce where you are from in Japanese in a Japanese introduction you would say:

So all you would have to do is input your country before Kara kimashita .

Next, let’s take a look at how to introduce your occupation in Japanese.

Tell me about your occupation? in Japanese

Well when it comes to introducing your occupation in Japanese you can say it in a few ways. Let’s have a look at 2 examples.

Now you can choose between your preference here just add your job title after “Wa”

What about your hobbies? in Japanese

Hobbies are wonderful things, they are what make up your character and also say a lot about you as a person. It is very common to introduce your hobby during self introductions in Japanese so lets have a look at how to this now.

To introduce your hobby in Japanese simply add your hobby of choice after “Watashi no shumi wa”

An example of this would be, “ わたしのしゅみはにほんごをべんきょうすることです”. My hobby is studying Japanese.

Jikoshoukai(自己紹介) – Summary

So now you know how to introduce your age, country, occupation and hobbies, you are all set to go off and impress the world with your Japanese introduction ability. The Japanese introduction is in most cases the conversation starter for any new people that you meet so ensure that you practice it a lot.

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Transition Words and Phrases for Japanese Essays  

  June 9, 2020

By   Alexis Papa

Are you having a hard time connecting between your ideas in your Japanese essay? In this article, we have listed useful transition words and phrases that you can use to help you let your ideas flow and have an organized essay.

Japanese Phrases for Giving Examples and Emphasis

For example,

がいこく、たとえばちゅうごくへいったことがありますか。 Gaikoku, tatoeba Chuugoku e itta koto ga arimasu ka?

Have you been abroad, for instance China?

たぶんちゅうごくへいったことがあります。 Tabun Chuugoku e itta koto ga arimasu.

I have probably been to China.

Japanese Essay Phrases: General Explaining

しけんにごうかくするのために、まじめにべんきょうしなきゃ。 Shiken ni goukaku suru no tame ni, majime ni benkyou shinakya.

In order to pass the exam, I must study.

あしたあめがふるそう。だから、かさをもってきて。 Ashita ame ga furu sou. Dakara, kasa wo motte kite.

It seems that it will rain tomorrow. So, bring an umbrella.

Showing Sequence

まず、あたらしいさくぶんのがいせつをしようとおもう。 Mazu, atarashii sakubun no gaisetsu wo shiyou to omou.

First, I am going to do an outline of my new essay.

つぎに、さくぶんをかきはじめます。 Tsugi ni, sakubun wo kaki hajimemasu.

Then, I will begin writing my essay.

Adding Supporting Statements

かれはブレーキをかけ、そしてくるまはとまった。 Kare wa bureki wo kake, soshite kuruma wa tomatta.

He put on the brakes and then the car stopped.

いえはかなりにみえたし、しかもねだんがてごろだった。 Ie wa kanari ni mieta shi, shikamo nedan ga tegoro datta.

The house looked good; moreover,the (selling) price was right.

Demonstrating Contrast 

にほんごはむずかしいですが、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ga, omoshiroi desu.

Although Japanese language is difficult, it is enjoyable.

にほんごはむずかしいです。でも、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Demo, omoshiroi desu.

Japanese language is difficult. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable.

にほんごはむずかしいです。しかし、おもしろいです。 Nihondo wa muzukashii desu. Shikashi, omoshiroi desu.

Japanese language is difficult. However, it is enjoyable.

にほんごはむずかしいですけれど、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzakashii desu keredo, omoshiroi desu.

Japanese Essay Phrases for Summarizing

われわれはこのはなしはじつわだというけつろんにたっした。 Wareware wa kono hanashi wa jitsuwa da to iu ketsuron ni tasshita.

We have come to a conclusion that this is a true story.

Now that you have learned these Japanese transitional words and phrases, we hope that your Japanese essay writing has become easier. Leave a comment and write examples of sentences using these Japanese essay phrases!

Alexis Papa

Alexis is a Japanese language and culture enthusiast from the Philippines. She is a Japanese Studies graduate, and has worked as an ESL and Japanese instructor at a local language school. She enjoys her free time reading books and watching series.

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Survival Japanese – self introduction

This is a simple but polite self introduction that can be used in any situation. It also can be used in a business situation without being regarded as rude or too casual.

The Japanese language used in business is more formal and more polite than the day to day language. If you represent your company it also is common to mention your company name and eventually your department when you introduce yourself. Please also be aware that in Japanese usually the last name is mentioned before the first name.

When you handover your business cards, make sure to hand it over holding it with two hands and also receive your business partner’s card with two hand. It is polite to have a short look at the card in order to check the position and title of the other person. When you return to the meeting table you should line up the business cards in front of you and arrange them in the same order as the people are sitting (This can be difficult sometimes). Do not write on a business you received in front of the people since this is regarded as un-polite.

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Thank you for providing this web page for us whom learning Japanese i’m appreciates your.

Ty!, but how do you introduce yourself on martial arts? I think It’s the same line with the simple form but I’m curious 🙂

This is an interesting questions and – to be honest – I don’t know. Does anybody who is in martial arts know the answer?

arigatou ^^ really helpful 😡

How do I spell my name: Zhané in Japanese?

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Learn Japanese online

Write a paragraph about family in japanese.

In this post, we will introduce to you the lesson : Write a paragraph about family in Japanese. Let’s start!

• 1.1 Opening
• 1.3 Conclusion
• 2.1 Answer the questions from readers :

A paragraph about family in Japanese

私は三人家族である。 Watashi wa sannin kazoku de aru. There are three people in my family.

三人家族は少ないと思うが、私の家族はいつもにぎやかである。 Sannin kazoku wa sukunai to omou ga, watashi no kazoku wa itsumo nigiyaka de aru. A family of three might be small but my family is always lively.

なんといっても、いつも明るい父と楽しい話が好きな母とおっちょこちょいの私の三人がそろっているからだ。 Nanto itte mo, itsumo akarui chichi to tanoshii hanashi ga sukina haha to otchokochoi no watashi no sannin ga sorotteiru kara da. A father who is always cheerful, a mother who likes funny stories and me who is a careless person. The three of us always stay together no matter what.

まるで愛犬が一匹いるのかと思うぐらいにぎやかである。だから、毎日私は楽しい。 Marude aiken ga ichibiki iru no ka to omou gurai nigiyaka de aru. Dakara, mainichi watashi wa tanoshii. We are lively like there is one pet dog in my family. So I’m happy every day.

家族皆、海好きなので夏休みと言ったら、プールよりも先に山よりも先に遊園地よりも先にデパートよりも先に海へ行く。 Kazoku mina, umi suki na node natsuyasumi to ittara, puuru yori mo saki ni yama yori mo saki ni yuenchi yori mo saki ni depaato yori mo saki ni umi e iku. Everyone in my family loves the beach, so we will go to the beach rather than go to a mall, amusement park, mountain, or pool on summer vacation.

このときに役立つのが父である。 Kono toki ni yakudatsu no ga chichidearu. At these times, my father is helpful.

父は近道や色々な道を知っているためあまり渋滞に引っかからずに海へ行ける。 Chichi wa chikamichi ya iroirona michi wo shitte iru tame amari juutai ni hikkakarazu ni umi e ikeru. My father knows many short ways and roads, so we can go to the beach without being caught in a traffic jam.

それにゴミがいっぱい落ちている汚い海ではなくエメラルドグリーンに光っているきれいな海へ連れてってくれる。 Soreni gomi ga ippai ochite iru kitanai umide wa naku emerarudoguriin ni hikatte iru kireina umi e tsuretette kureru. Moreover, he takes us to the beautiful sea that shines in the emerald green instead of the dirty sea full of garbage.

そして、泳ぎ上手な父が泳ぎを教えてくれたり、物知りの母が海で真っ黒に焼けてひりひりしないような方法を教えてくれる。 Soshite, oyogi jouzuna chichi ga oyogi wo oshiete kure tari, monoshiri no haha ga umi de makkuro ni yakete hirihiri shinai youna houhou wo oshiete kureru. And my father, who is a good swimmer, also teaches me how to swim and my knowledgeable mother also teaches me how to not get burned in the sea.

それから楽しい時間が過ぎ家へ帰る。 Sorekara tanoshii jikan ga sugi ie e kaeru. Then we go home after having a good time.

そして、色々なこと所へ行く。 Soshite, iroirona koto tokoro e iku. We also go to various places.

私にとって夏休みは大事な行事なのだ。 Watashi ni totte natsuyasumi wa daijina gyoujina noda. Summer vacation is an important event for me.

こんな私の家族も時にはケンカするときがある。 Konna watashi no kazoku mo tokiniha kenka suru toki ga aru. My family sometimes has a fight.

しかし、どんなに大きなケンカをしても一日で仲直りする。 Shikashi, donnani ookina kenka wo shite mo ichinichi de nakanaori suru. However, no matter how big the fight is, we will make up in a day.

ケンカするほど仲が良いだと思う。 Kenkasuru hodo naka ga ii da to omou. I think the more we fight, the better our relationship is.

わたしの家族は皆一番寝ると昨日の嫌なことなど全て忘れてしまうのだ。 Watashi no kazoku wa mina ichiban neru to kinou no iyana koto nado subete wasurete shimau noda. Everyone in my family will forget all the unpleasant things the day before when going to sleep.

だから、すぐ仲直りする。 Dakara, sugu nakanaori suru. So we quickly make up with each other.

人間にとって家族とは相談相手になってくれたり一緒に楽しめたり守ってくれたりする。 Ningen ni totte kazoku to wa soudan aite ni natte kure tari issho ni tanoshime tari mamotte kure tari suru. For each person, family is a counseling partner and a place where we are protected and can enjoy together.

こんな家族を私は、大切にしたい。 Konna kazoku wo watashi wa, taisetsu ni shitai. I want to cherish such a family.

そして毎日明るい父と母と私でこれからも楽しく生活していきたい。 Soshite mainichi akarui chichi to haha to watashi de korekara mo tanoshiku seikatsu shite ikitai. And I want to live happily every day with my cheerful father and my mother from now on.

笑う門には福が来るというように明るく楽しく生活すれば幸運がい来るということが分かった。 Warau kado ni wa fuku ga kuru to iu you ni akaruku tanoshiku seikatsu sureba kōun ga i kuru to iu koto ga wakatta. I understood that if we live happily, fortune will come to us, just like the idiom “Fortune comes in by a merry gate.”

Note when writing a paragraph about family in Japanese

When writing a paragraph about family, you can follow the outline below:

– Opening: How many people are there in the family? How many brothers and sisters? You can also list other members (if any) like grandparents, or even pets.

– The detailed content:

+ What kind of person are your parents, siblings, and grandparents? Use adjectives about personality such as: 優しい, 面白い, etc. In addition, express your feeling about each person.

+ Describe the job of your parents (siblings, grandparents). What do you think about those job?

+ Talk about everyday life of your family, the trips, the moments of playing together, quarrel, etc. Thereby emphasizing the positive change of your family relationship.

– Conclusion : What kind of family do you want to build?

Answer the questions from readers :

How to translate this sentence to japanese “my family has 5 people”.

My family has 5 people :（私の）家族は五人います (watashi no kazokuha gonin imasu). You can use or remove 私の(watashi no), the meaning of the sentence won’t change.

Above is: Write a paragraph about family in Japanese. Practice a lot to improve your writing skills. Wish you all good study.

Stay with us on :

• Japanese basic listening practice lesson 6
• Japanese basic listening practice lesson 7

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