Self-introduction, or 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai), is one of the first practical skills you learn when studying Japanese. Whether you are meeting classmates on your first day of Japanese class or introducing yourself at a new workplace, a short first-meeting template gives you a practical place to start.
A Simple First-Meeting Template
The phrases below are what a beginner needs for a standard first meeting in Japanese. Japanese script is on the left, romanisation in the centre, and the English meaning on the right.
| Japanese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| はじめまして。 | Hajimemashite. | Nice to meet you (for the first time). |
| 私は _____ です。 | Watashi wa _____ desu. | I am _____. (your name) |
| _____ から来ました。 | _____ kara kimashita. | I came from _____. (your country or city) |
| (どうぞ)よろしくお願いします。 | (Douzo) yoroshiku onegaishimasu. | Nice to meet you; I look forward to getting to know you. (polite closing in this context) |
This four-line pattern is the core of a polite first-meeting self-introduction. The Japan Foundation’s Irodori Starter course (Lesson 3) teaches exactly this sequence for beginners: greeting, name, where you are from, and a polite closing. You can listen to official audio examples on the Irodori Starter lesson index.
Key Phrases Explained
Greeting: はじめまして (Hajimemashite)
はじめまして is the standard phrase when meeting someone for the first time. It signals that this is a first encounter and sets a polite tone. Use it at the start of any first-meeting introduction, whether with a classmate, a colleague, or a stranger.
Stating Your Name
The simplest way to state your name is:
私は _____ です。 (Watashi wa _____ desu.) — “I am _____.”
Replace the blank with your name. If your name is long or uncommon in Japanese, you can shorten it or use the name you prefer to be called.
Where You Are From
To say where you are from:
_____ から来ました。 (_____ kara kimashita.) — “I came from _____.”
Fill in a country name, city, or both. For example: シンガポールから来ました (Shingapooru kara kimashita) means “I came from Singapore.”
Polite Closing: よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu)
This phrase does not translate neatly into English. It roughly means “please regard me favourably” and is the standard way to wrap up a first-meeting introduction. You can include どうぞ (douzo) at the beginning; the official beginner pattern gives it as an optional part of the closing.
A Personalised Example
Suppose your name is Mei and you are from Singapore. Your self-introduction would be:
はじめまして。
私はメイです。
シンガポールから来ました。
どうぞよろしくお願いします。Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Mei desu. Shingapooru kara kimashita. Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
(Nice to meet you. I am Mei. I came from Singapore. I look forward to getting to know you.)
This is an illustrative practice example, not a quotation from a Japanese Explorer lesson or a student. Replace Mei and Singapore with your own information.
Classroom Versus Work Settings
For class practice, start with the four lines, then check whether your activity asks for any extra information. The purpose is to give your listener a clear name and a little context.
For work, check what the particular meeting asks you to share. You might need to add a company or role, but those details are not compulsory in every beginner self-introduction. Prepare the relevant details instead of treating a cultural checklist as a rule for every person.
If you are studying Japanese for business purposes, compare the published course objectives and format with the situations you need to practise.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using お疲れ様でした (otsukaresama deshita) as a first-meeting greeting. The earlier version incorrectly offered this as “nice to meet you.” For the basic first-meeting template here, use はじめまして (hajimemashite).
Learning an incorrect romanised phrase. The earlier misspelled introductory phrases have been removed. Use the Japanese script and romanisation in the reference table rather than learning those spellings.
Using お名前 (onamae) for your own name. The お (o-) prefix is honorific. お名前は？ (Onamae wa?) is how you ask someone else their name. When giving your own name, say 私は___です (Watashi wa ___ desu).
Self-Check Exercise
Try writing your own four-line self-introduction using the template below. Fill in the blanks with your real information, then read it aloud.
- はじめまして。
- 私は __________ です。 (your name)
- __________ から来ました。 (your country or city)
- どうぞよろしくお願いします。
Check the middle lines as well as the greeting: did you put your name before です, and your place before から来ました? Compare all four lines with the reference, then practise saying them without looking. If you are unsure about a name or place in Japanese, ask for help rather than guessing its spelling.
Conclusion
A Japanese self-introduction does not need to be complicated. The key is a clear, polite sequence: greet, state your name, say where you are from, and close with よろしくお願いします. You can use the template as a starting point for practice in a Japanese class or in everyday life.
