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How to introduce yourself in Japanese (jikoshōkai)

A Japanese self-introduction, (jikoshōkai), follows a fixed pattern. Learn it once and you can introduce yourself at school, at work or to a new friend, politely and naturally.

Phrases3 min readUpdated
The short answer
  • Start with はじめまして (nice to meet you).
  • Say your name with 〜です: . Never add さん to your own name.
  • Add where you’re from (〜からきました) and maybe a job or hobby.
  • Always finish with よろしくおねがいします.

The basic template

  • はじめましてhajimemashite
    Nice to meet youOnly at a first meeting.
  • アンナですAnna desu
    I’m Anna.Replace with your name, written in katakana.
  • ドイツからきましたDoitsu kara kimashita
    I’m from Germany.
  • がくせいですgakusei desu
    I’m a student.
  • しゅみはりょうりですshumi wa ryōri desu
    My hobby is cooking.
  • よろしくおねがいしますyoroshiku onegai shimasu
    Pleased to meet you / Please treat me well

That’s a complete, polite self-introduction. Say it slowly, bow slightly at the end, and you’ve made a great first impression.

Your name

Foreign names are written in katakana, based on how they sound. Our guide on writing your name in Japanese explains how to find yours. In Japan, people often give their family name in formal settings: .

  • アンナといいますAnna to iimasu
    My name is Anna.Slightly more formal: “I’m called Anna”.
  • アンナともうしますAnna to mōshimasu
    My name is Anna. (humble)Business and very polite situations.

Where you’re from

  • アメリカからきましたAmerika kara kimashita
    I’m from the USA.
  • イギリスからきましたIgirisu kara kimashita
    I’m from the UK.
  • カナダじんですKanada-jin desu
    I’m Canadian.Country + じん = nationality.
  • ロンドンにすんでいますRondon ni sunde imasu
    I live in London.

Find more country names in countries and languages in Japanese.

Job, studies and hobbies

  • かいしゃいんですkaishain desu
    I’m an office worker.
  • エンジニアですenjinia desu
    I’m an engineer.
  • だいがくでれきしをべんきょうしていますdaigaku de rekishi o benkyō shite imasu
    I study history at university.
  • しゅみはアニメとりょこうですshumi wa anime to ryokō desu
    My hobbies are anime and travel.
  • にほんごをべんきょうしていますnihongo o benkyō shite imasu
    I’m learning Japanese.

More words in our guides to jobs and hobbies.

What よろしくおねがいします really means

There’s no exact English translation. It expresses something like I hope we’ll get along or please be kind to me. It ends almost every introduction, and also emails and requests. Among friends, a simple is enough.

Three ready-made introductions

Casual (at a language exchange)

  • はじめまして。トムです。イギリスからきました。アニメがすきです。よろしく！Hajimemashite. Tomu desu. Igirisu kara kimashita. Anime ga suki desu. Yoroshiku!
    Hi, I’m Tom. I’m from the UK. I like anime. Nice to meet you!

Polite (in class)

  • はじめまして。マリアです。スペインからきました。がくせいです。よろしくおねがいします。Hajimemashite. Maria desu. Supein kara kimashita. Gakusei desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
    Nice to meet you. I’m Maria. I’m from Spain. I’m a student. Pleased to meet you.

Business

  • はじめまして。ミラーともうします。どうぞよろしくおねがいいたします。Hajimemashite. Mirā to mōshimasu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
    How do you do. My name is Miller. I look forward to working with you.

What the other person might say

  • こちらこそ、よろしくおねがいしますkochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu
    Likewise, nice to meet you.
  • にほんごがじょうずですねnihongo ga jōzu desu ne
    Your Japanese is very good!You’ll hear this a lot. A humble answer: いいえ、まだまだです (no, I still have a long way to go).
Practice0/3

  1. How do you start an introduction?

  2. “I’m from Australia.”

  3. How do you end the introduction?

Frequently asked questions

How do you introduce yourself in Japanese?

Say はじめまして (nice to meet you), then your name with です (アンナです), optionally where you're from (〜からきました) and your job or hobby, and finish with よろしくおねがいします.

What does yoroshiku onegai shimasu mean?

It roughly means 'please treat me well' or 'I hope we get along'. It ends almost every Japanese self-introduction and is also used in emails and requests.

What is jikoshōkai?

自己紹介 (jikoshōkai) is the Japanese word for self-introduction, which usually follows a standard pattern in school, at work and in social situations.

Keep going

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