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 ___).
Occupation
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 _____.”
School
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 _____.”
Hobbies
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.
Formal
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
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.
Conclusion
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.
