Introducing yourself

Within a few minutes you will be able to introduce yourself in Japanese, isn’t that awesome!

Let’s start!

This „Hajimenashite-Dōzo yoroshiku“ formula works like a magic! You start with greeting your partner, you add a few simple and clear information about yourself (your name, your birthplace, maybe a place you live in? anything related to Japan that you love?) and finish with any of these: „Yoroshiku / Yoroshiku onegaishimasu / Dōzo yoroshiku / Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu„.

Remember, the longer your sentence is, the more polite you sound in Japanese.

You might ask a few questions regarding the sentences:

1. How to say „I“? „Watashi„.
2. What is „wa“ behind „watashi“? Wa is actually written as „HA“ は in hiragana but pronounced as „wa“ when used as a particle like in this case.
3. That the hell is particle? Particles are a special kind of forms of speech in Japanese. They always come after the word they refer to. Their job is to connect the words together and create the particular relations among them. For instance, WA is known as a topic marker. In our case we understand that the topic of the sentences is „watashi“ (I, me) because it is followed by the particle WA.
4. How can I say I am from another country but Czechia? Simply substitute the word „Cheko“ which means the Czech Republic, with your homeland: Eg. Itaria, Furansu, Doitsu, Igirisu (UK), Ōranda (Netherlands), etc. We might add a list of few countries so that you make no mistake in pronunciation when saying it in Japanese. The word „kara“ means „from“ and „kimashita“ stands for „I came“.
5. What is „ni„? It is another particles, just like „wa“ before. It refers to a place, in our case a place where you live. We can translate this one as „in“. So for example you live (sunde imasu) in London – Rondon ni sunde imasu. You live in Paris – Parī ni sunde imasu. Simple, isn’t it.
6. What is „ga„? Also another particle. It is always used with the adjective „daisuki“ which means „to love something“. You love manga? Manga ga daisuki desu. You love sushi? Sushi ga daisuki desu. Neat!
7. What is „desu„? „Desu“ is a word (copula) that grammatically links a subject and predicate. It is often translated into English using a form of the verb „to be“. You should use „desu“ in your sentences because it makes them more polite. Once you make some Japanese friends and you become closer to them, feel free and go wild without „desu“.

Well. Can you introduce yourself now?

Hajimemashite.

Watashi wa ___________ desu.

___________ kara kimashita.

___________ ni sunde imasu.

___________ ga daisuki desu.

Dōzo yoroshiku!

Have a great day and let us now if you would like to know anything else when introducing yourself.