4 Phrases! Introduce Yourself In Japanese! You Should Know

Your self-introduction (自己紹介, じこしょうかい, jiko-shōkai) is one of the most important moments in any new Japanese interaction — whether you are meeting classmates, starting a new job, or greeting someone at a language exchange event. This guide walks you through the five essential phrases you need, explains the important differences between textbook and natural Japanese, and gives you scripts for both formal and casual situations.

Yuka

Hey Rei! I keep mixing up introduce-yourself-in-japanese and (‘it’, ‘that’). Can you break it down for me?

Rei

Sure! They’re both useful words but used in different situations. Let me walk you through it with some examples!

At a Glance: 5 Phrases for Self-Introduction in Japanese

Phrase 1: Nice to Meet You — はじめまして

Every Japanese self-introduction begins with はじめまして (hajimemashite). It comes from the verb はじめる (hajimeru), meaning “to begin,” and literally means “I am meeting you for the first time.” There is no shorter or more casual replacement for this — it is used across all registers.

はじめまして。私はトムです。
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Tomu desu.
Nice to meet you. I am Tom.

Note: Once you have met someone before and are meeting them again, do not use はじめまして. Instead, use お久しぶりです (o-hisashiburi desu — “it’s been a while”) or simply こんにちは.

Yuka

Oh, so introduce-yourself-in-japanese is used that way! I never thought about it like that.

Rei

Exactly! Once you see it in context a few times, it starts to feel natural. The key is paying attention to introduce-yourself-in-japanese when you read or listen.

Phrase 2: My Name Is — 〇〇です / 〇〇と申します

Your textbook may have taught you 私の名前は〇〇です (Watashi no namae wa 〇〇 desu). While grammatically correct, native speakers almost never say this. The natural way is much shorter.

Formal business setting:

はじめまして。田中と申します。
Hajimemashite. Tanaka to mōshimasu.
Nice to meet you. My name is Tanaka.

Casual setting:

はじめまして。ゆかです。
Hajimemashite. Yuka desu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Yuka.

Yuka

And what about (‘it’, ‘that’)? I always thought it was the same as introduce-yourself-in-japanese…

Rei

Easy mistake! (‘it’, ‘that’) has its own distinct meaning. The difference becomes really clear once you compare them side by side — which is exactly what we’re doing here!

Phrase 3: I Am From — 〇〇から来ました

Sharing where you are from is a natural part of any introduction, especially as a foreign learner. The pattern is simple: [place] + から来ました.

はじめまして。ジョンです。アメリカのニューヨークから来ました。
Hajimemashite. Jon desu. Amerika no Nyū Yōku kara kimashita.
Nice to meet you. I’m John. I’m from New York, America.

Phrase 4: My Occupation / Status — 〇〇です / 〇〇をしています

Mentioning your occupation, field of study, or reason for being in Japan helps people understand your context and naturally continue the conversation.

東京大学の学生です。日本語を勉強しています。
Tōkyō Daigaku no gakusei desu. Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu.
I’m a student at Tokyo University. I’m studying Japanese.

Phrase 5: The Essential Closing — よろしくお願いします

Every Japanese self-introduction ends with よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu). This phrase has no direct English translation — it expresses goodwill, a request for kindness, and an acknowledgement of the new relationship. Skipping it would leave your introduction feeling incomplete.

The response when someone says よろしくお願いします to you is simply: こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします (Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu) — “Likewise, nice to meet you.”

Complete Self-Introduction Scripts

Casual introduction (language exchange, meeting peers):

はじめまして。ルーカスです。ドイツから来ました。今、東京に住んでいます。日本語を勉強しています。よろしくお願いします！
Hajimemashite. Rūkasu desu. Doitsu kara kimashita. Ima, Tōkyō ni sunde imasu. Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!
Nice to meet you. I’m Lucas. I’m from Germany. I live in Tokyo now. I’m studying Japanese. Nice to meet you!

Formal introduction (business / workplace):

はじめまして。山田太郎と申します。ABC商事の営業部から参りました。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Hajimemashite. Yamada Tarō to mōshimasu. ABC Shōji no eigyōbu kara mairimashita. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Nice to meet you. My name is Yamada Taro. I am from the sales department of ABC Trading. I look forward to working with you.

Quick Quiz — Build a Self-Introduction

Yuka

Okay, I feel a lot more confident about introduce-yourself-in-japanese and (‘it’, ‘that’) now! Should we test it with a quiz?

Rei

Let’s do it! A quick quiz is the best way to make sure the difference really sticks.

Fill in the blanks to complete a natural Japanese self-introduction.

1. ___。(Opening: Nice to meet you)
2. エマ___。(My name is Emma — natural form)
3. オーストラリア___来ました。(I’m from Australia)
4. 大学で日本語を___しています。(I am studying Japanese at university)
5. よろしくお___します。(Standard closing phrase)

Answers:

1. はじめまして — The universal first-meeting opener. Always used.
2. です (Emma desu) — Natural and direct. Do not add 私の名前は before it.
3. から (Ōsutoraria kara kimashita) — から means “from.” The pattern is [place] + から来ました.
4. 勉強 (benkyō) — 勉強しています = “am studying.” The te-form + います shows ongoing action.
5. 願い (onegai) — よろしくお願いします. Every introduction ends with this phrase.

Summary: Your Self-Introduction Template

A good self-introduction does not need to be long — just clear, natural, and warm. With these five phrases mastered, you can confidently introduce yourself in any Japanese setting.

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