When you meet someone for the first time, what do you do? You introduce yourself, of course! Your jikoshōkai (自己紹介, self introduction) is one of the first things you should learn how to say when you learn Japanese. Explore how to say “hello, my name is” in Japanese, along with how to ask what someone’s name is and how to introduce yourself in a work setting.
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How to say ‘my name is’ in Japanese
When you introduce yourself in Japanese, remember these four things:
- Don’t attach Japanese honorifics like san (Mr./Ms.) to your own name.
- Throw in one or two appropriate Japanese greetings.
- If you’re not sure if casual speech is appropriate, stick with polite speech and use the verb desu.
- If you’re introducing yourself in person, pair your introduction with a short bow.
Watashi wa… (I’m…)
The easiest way to introduce yourself is by just saying watashi wa (私は), followed by your name, and the Japanese “to be” verb desu (です). This translates to “I’m [name].”
- Hajimemashite. Watashi wa jon desu.（初めまして。私はジョンです。）= Nice to meet you. I’m John.
You can also drop watashi wa entirely, leaving it as just your name and desu.
- Jon desu.（ジョンです。）= I’m John.
Watashi no namae wa… (My name is…)
If you want to explicitly say “my name is” in Japanese, you can use the slightly longer watashi no namae wa (私の名前は), followed by your name, and desu (です).
- Watashi no namae wa maiku desu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.（私の名前はマイクです。どうぞよろしくお願いします。）= My name is Mike. Looking forward to getting to know you.
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How to ask ‘What is your name?’ in Japanese
It’s usually preferable to use someone’s name in the third person rather than “you” in Japanese, which means knowing the name of the person you’re talking to is essential.
The structure of the sentence is simple. Since you want to avoid the word “you,” the subject of the sentence will be “name” rather than “you,” with the understanding that it’s the name of the person you’re talking to or about.
- Onamae wa nan desu ka?（お名前は何ですか？）= What is your name?
You can also drop the second half of the sentence, as the situation implies the entire question:
- Onamae wa?（お名前は？）= (What is) Your name?
Notice that “name” in these questions is onamae (お名前) instead of namae (名前), as it was when introducing yourself. The addition of the o on the front of the word makes it more polite, showing respect for the other person’s name. As such, you shouldn’t use onamae for your own name.
How to introduce yourself at work in Japanese
If you do any work in Japan, then you’ll need to familiarize yourself with Japanese business etiquette, which is in a league all of its own. When introducing yourself, most of the typical phrases still apply, but you should remember two additional details.
Use the verb mōshimasu
Instead of using the verb desu, use the polite Japanese verb conjugation of the humble verb mōsu (申す, to be called). Note that the verb is preceded by the particle to (と).
- Ema sumisu to mōshimasu.（エマ・スミスと申します。）= My name is Emma Smith. (Literally: I am called Emma Smith.)
Introduce your company along with your name
If you’re introducing yourself as a member of a company, it’s wise to mix your company’s name into your introduction. Just put your company name plus the Japanese particle no (の) in front of your own name.
- Rozetta sutōn no ema sumisu to mōshimasu.（ロゼッタストーンのエマ・スミスと申します。）= My name is Emma Smith from Rosetta Stone.
Practice introductions and greetings with Rosetta Stone
Looking for a way to practice saying “my name is” in Japanese on your own before trying to strike up a conversation? You’re in luck! Greetings and introductions are among the first things you’ll see in Rosetta Stone’s Japanese course. Using the Rosetta Stone App, you’ll be able to listen to dialogue recorded by native speakers, see conversations in context, and practice speaking out loud.
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