Try Self-Introductions in Japanese!
\ Learn Basic Self-Introduction Phrases /
When starting a conversation in Japanese, one of the most important things is self-introduction (jikoshoukai). Phrases like “Nice to meet you,” “My name is 〇〇,” and “I’m from 〇〇” help you share basic information about yourself and begin building connections smoothly. Self-introductions are useful in many situations — at school, work, hobby groups, events, or even on social media. If you can introduce yourself clearly, it makes a good impression and often leads to a natural conversation.
Learning Tips
- Speak simply and clearly — that’s the key!
- It’s totally okay to talk at your own pace.
- Don’t forget to say “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu” at the end — it’s a very important phrase in Japanese culture.
- Learn how to switch between formal and casual expressions depending on the situation.
- If someone asks you a question, don’t be afraid! Practice how to respond with phrases like “Could you say that again, please?”
1. Greetings for self-introduction
- はじめまして
- In Japan, self-introduction (called jikoshoukai 自己紹介) is considered a very important part of communication, especially when meeting someone for the first time. It is not only about sharing your name or background, but also about showing politeness and creating a comfortable connection with others.
Japanese | English |
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はじめまして。Hajimemashite. | Nice to meet you. |
私はケビンです。Watashi wa Kebin desu. | I am Kevin. |
私の名前はゆきです。Watashi no namae wa Yuki desu. | My name is Yuki. |
リサと呼んでください。Lisa to yonde kudasai. | Please call me Lisa. |
どうぞよろしくお願いします。Oyasumi(nasai). | Please treat me well. |
2. Where you’re from
- わたしは ○○ からきました
- The phrase 「わたしは ○○ からきました」 means “I came from ○○” and is a basic and essential way to tell someone where you are from in Japanese. It is commonly used in self-introductions, especially when meeting someone for the first time, and is appropriate in both formal and casual situations.
This phrase is easy to learn and highly practical for Japanese learners.
Japanese | English |
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私はアメリカから来ました。 Watashi wa america kara kimashita. | I’m from the United States |
私は韓国出身です。Watashi wa kankoku shusshin desu. | I’m originally from Korea. |
私は今、東京に住んでいます。Watashi wa ima, Tokyo ni sundeimasu. | I live in Tokyo now. |
私は3年前から日本に住んでいます。Watashi wa sannen mae kara Osaka ni sundeimasu. | I’ve been living in Japan for three years. |
私の故郷はフィリピンのセブです。Watashi no kokyou wa Filipin no Cebu desu. | My hometown is Cebu in the Philippines. |
3. Your age
- わたしは ○○ さいです
- In formal or casual conversations, it’s common for people to mention their age, especially when meeting for the first time, to help find common ground.While it’s polite to ask about age in some Japanese contexts (like between classmates or coworkers), it’s better to wait until the other person mentions it first in more formal settings.
Japanese | English |
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私は25歳です。Watashi wa nijyuu-go sai desu. | I am 25 years old. |
まだ18歳です。Mada jyuu-hassai desu. | I’m still 18 years old. |
今年で30歳になります。Kotoshi de sanjyussai ni narimasu. | I’ll turn 30 this year. |
歳は秘密です。Toshi wa himitsu desu. | My age is a secret. |
私の誕生日は5月24日です。Watashi no tanjyoubi wa go gatsu nijyuu yokka desu. | My birthday is on May 24th. |
4. Your job or school
- わたしは ○○ をしています
- In Japanese, talking about your job or occupation is a natural part of self-introduction.
This expression is polite and versatile, suitable for both formal and casual situations.
You can also use 「〜です」 or 「〜で はたらいています」 for simpler or more specific alternatives.
Japanese | English |
---|---|
私は会社員をしています。Watashi wa kaishain wo shiteimasu. | I work as an office worker. |
私はエンジニアです。Watashi wa enginia desu. | I work as an engineer. |
私は大学生です。Watashi wa daigakusei desu. | I am a university student. |
私はカフェで働いています。Watashi wa café de hataraiteimasu. | I work at ABC Café. |
私はコンビニでアルバイトをしています。Watashi wa conbini de arubaito wo shiteimasu. | I work part-time at a convenience store. |
5. Your hobbies
- わたしのしゅみは ○○ です
- Talking about your hobbies and skills is a great way to connect with others when introducing yourself. It is a very common way to talk about your hobby or personal interest in Japanese, especially in self-introductions, conversations with new people, or in written profiles. This pattern is polite and easy to understand, making it perfect for beginner and intermediate Japanese learners.
Japanese | English |
---|---|
私の趣味は旅行です。Watashi no shumi wa ryokou desu. | My hobby is traveling. |
私の趣味はアニメを見ることです。Watashi no shumi wa anime wo mirukoto desu. | My hobby is watching Japanese anime. |
私の趣味は本を読むことです。Watashi no shumi wa hon wo yomukoto desu. | My hobby is taking photos. |
私の趣味は映画を見ることです。Watashi no shumi wa eiga wo mirukoto desu. | My hobby is watching movies. |
私の趣味は写真を撮ることです。Watashi no shumi wa shasin wo torukoto desu. | My hobby is taking photos. |
6. Your skills
- わたしのとくぎは ○○ です
- “とくぎ” is more formal and specific, often used when you want to show off a recognizable skill or strength.“わたしのとくぎは ○○ です” – Talking about your special skills in Japanese. The phrase 「わたしのとくぎは ○○ です」 means “My special skill is ○○” in English. It is used when you want to talk about something you’re particularly good at, such as a talent, technical ability, or personal strength.
Japanese | English |
---|---|
私の特技は料理です。Watashi no tokugi wa ryouri desu. | My special skill is cooking. |
私の特技はピアノを弾くことです。Watashi no tokugi wa piano wo hiku koto desu. | My special skill is playing the piano. |
私の特技は絵を描くことです。Watashi no tokugi wa e wo kaku koto desu. | My special skill is drawing. |
私は写真を撮るのが得意です。Watashi wa shashin wo torunoga suki desu. | I’m good at taking pictures. |
私はスポーツが得意です。Watashi wa supotsu ga tokui desu. | I’m good at all kinds of sports. |
7. Your Interests and favorite
- わたしは ○○ がすきです
- It is a basic and widely used sentence structure in Japanese that allows you to express what you like—whether it’s a thing, an activity, a food, or even a person (in a general, non-romantic sense).This phrase is very useful in self-introductions, casual conversations, and even when making new friends, as sharing interests is a great way to connect with others.
Japanese | English |
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私はラーメンが好きです。Watashi wa ramen ga suki desu. | I like ramen. |
私は音楽を聴くのが好きです。Watashi wa ongaku wo kikunoga suki desu. | I like listening to music. |
私は日本の映画を見るのが好きです。Watashi wa nihon no eiga wo mirunoga suki desu. | I like watching Japanese movies. |
私はかわいい動物が大好きです。Watashi wa kawaii doubutsu ga daisuki desu. | I love cute animals. |
私は日本のアニメが好きです。Watashi wa nihon no anime ga suki desu. | I like Japanese anime. |
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