Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Introducing-Yourself-and-Others

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Japanese → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings and Introductions → Introducing Yourself and Others

Introduction: Greetings and introductions are essential in any language. They serve as the foundation for building relationships and establishing connections with others. In Japanese culture, proper greetings and introductions are highly valued and considered a sign of respect and politeness. This lesson will focus on teaching you how to introduce yourself and others in Japanese, as well as ask and answer basic personal questions. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped with the necessary vocabulary and phrases to confidently engage in conversations and make a positive impression in Japanese-speaking environments.

Vocabulary

Here are some important vocabulary words and phrases related to introducing yourself and others:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
自己紹介	jiko shōkai	self-introduction
名前	namae	name
年齢	nenrei	age
出身地	shusshinchi	place of origin
趣味	shumi	hobby
仕事	shigoto	job
学校	gakkō	school
一緒に	issho ni	together
どうぞよろしくお願いします	dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu	Nice to meet you
お名前は何ですか？	o-namae wa nan desu ka?	What is your name?
年齢はいくつですか？	nenrei wa ikutsu desu ka?	How old are you?
どこから来ましたか？	doko kara kimashita ka?	Where are you from?
趣味は何ですか？	shumi wa nan desu ka?	What are your hobbies?
お仕事は何ですか？	o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?	What is your job?
どこに学校に通っていますか？	doko ni gakkō ni kayotte imasu ka?	Where do you go to school?

Introducing Yourself

When introducing yourself in Japanese, it is important to convey your name, age, place of origin, hobbies, and occupation. Here is an example of a self-introduction:

Watashi wa Tanaka Hiroshi desu. Nijūsai desu. Tōkyō shusshin desu. Shumi wa eiga o miru koto desu. Gakkō ni kayotte imasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Translation: My name is Hiroshi Tanaka. I am 20 years old. I am from Tokyo. My hobby is watching movies. I go to school. Nice to meet you.

In this example, the speaker introduces themselves using the phrase Watashi wa (I am) followed by their name, age, place of origin, hobbies, and occupation. The phrase Yoroshiku onegaishimasu is then used to express a polite request for a favorable relationship.

Introducing Others

When introducing someone else in Japanese, it is important to use appropriate honorific language and show respect. Here is an example of introducing someone else:

Kore wa watashi no tomodachi desu. Namae wa Suzuki Aiko desu. Nijūichisai desu. Osaka shusshin desu. Shumi wa ongakusuru koto desu. Gakkō ni kayotte imasu.

Translation: This is my friend. Her name is Aiko Suzuki. She is 21 years old. She is from Osaka. Her hobby is playing music. She goes to school.

In this example, the speaker introduces someone else using the phrase Kore wa (This is) followed by their relationship to the speaker, name, age, place of origin, hobbies, and occupation.

Cultural Insights

In Japanese culture, introductions are often accompanied by bowing as a sign of respect. The depth and duration of the bow may vary depending on the formality of the situation. Additionally, Japanese people generally use their family name followed by their given name when introducing themselves. However, it is common for non-Japanese individuals to introduce themselves using their given name followed by their family name to accommodate cultural differences.

It is also important to note that Japanese people value humility and modesty, so it is considered impolite to boast or overly promote oneself during introductions. Instead, it is more customary to focus on common interests and engage in polite conversation to establish a connection.

Practice Exercises

Now, let's practice what we have learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of introducing yourself and others in Japanese.

Exercise 1: Introduce Yourself Imagine you are meeting a new group of people and provide a self-introduction in Japanese. Include your name, age, place of origin, hobbies, and occupation.

Exercise 2: Introduce Others Imagine you are introducing your friend to a group of people. Provide an introduction for your friend in Japanese, including their name, age, place of origin, hobbies, and occupation.

Exercise 3: Dialogue Practice Create a dialogue between two people where they introduce themselves to each other in Japanese. Use the vocabulary and phrases learned in this lesson.

Solutions

Exercise 1: Introduce Yourself Watashi wa Tanaka Hiroshi desu. Nijūsai desu. Tōkyō shusshin desu. Shumi wa eiga o miru koto desu. Gakkō ni kayotte imasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Exercise 2: Introduce Others Kore wa watashi no tomodachi desu. Namae wa Suzuki Aiko desu. Nijūichisai desu. Osaka shusshin desu. Shumi wa ongakusuru koto desu. Gakkō ni kayotte imasu.

Exercise 3: Dialogue Practice Person A: Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Tanaka Hiroshi desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Person B: Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Suzuki Aiko desu. Hajimemashite.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you have learned how to introduce yourself and others in Japanese, as well as ask and answer basic personal questions. Greetings and introductions are an essential part of Japanese culture and play a crucial role in establishing connections and building relationships. By practicing the vocabulary and phrases covered in this lesson, you will be able to confidently engage in conversations and make a positive impression in Japanese-speaking environments. Keep practicing and expanding your knowledge, and you will continue to grow in your Japanese language journey.

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Hiragana Basics

• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Particle は and が
• Verb Conjugation
• Noun and Adjective Modification
• Question Words and Phrases

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Describing People
• Counting Numbers and Time
• Basic Food and Drink Terminology
• Daily Activities and Hobbies
• Basic Directions and Transportation

  ---

Geography and History

• Introduction to Japanese Geography
• Brief History of Japan
• Traditional Arts and Customs
• Popular Culture and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Conjugation
• Adjective Types and Usage
• Adverb Types and Usage
• Comparison and Superlative
• Adjective and Adverbial Modification

  ---

Family and Social Relations

• Family Members and Titles
• Social Etiquette and Expressions
• Basic Workplace and Business Terminology
• Shopping and Consumer Culture

  ---

Religion and Philosophy

• Shinto and Buddhism
• Zen and Samurai Culture
• Contemporary Spiritual Movements

  ---

Particles and Conjunctions

• Particles に and で
• Particles へ and を
• Particles も and しか
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences

  ---

Travel and Tourism

• Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
• Famous Tourist Attractions and Landmarks
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture

  ---

Education and Science

• Educational System and Vocabulary
• Traditional and Modern Science and Technology
• Natural Disasters and Risk Prevention

  ---

Prepositions and Interjections

• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Exclamation and Impression Expressions

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Arts and Media

• Film and Theater Terminology
• Music and Dance Terminology
• Art and Literature Terminology

  ---

Politics and Society

• Basic Political Vocabulary
• Social Issues and Controversies
• Japanese Business and Work Culture

Sources

• Self-Introduction In Japanese! 16 Phrases You Should Know ...
• Jikoshoukai: How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese
• How to introduce yourself in Japanese - A good place to start ...
• Introduce Yourself In Japanese With 5 Easy Lines - Ling App

Other Lessons

• Counting Numbers and Time
• How to say Good Bye?
• Shellfish
• Sewing
• How to Write a Good CV
• Feelings and Emotions
• Astronomy
• Months of the Year
• Art and Literature Terminology
• Count from 1 to 10

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