Learning a new language often comes with meeting new people, so if you go to Japan, you should know how to say “Nice to meet you!” in Japanese with hajimemashite (初めまして) and dōzo yoroshiku (どうぞよろしく).
Does it surprise you to see that Japanese has two completely different expressions for one greeting? Find out what makes them different, whether you should use one or both, and how to weave them into conversation when meeting someone for the first time.
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Two phrases for ‘Nice to meet you’ in Japanese
Rather than two separate options, hajimemashite and dōzo yoroshiku are two Japanese phrases that often go together when introducing yourself to another person and saying “Nice to meet you!”
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| 初めまして | hajimemashite | hah-jee-meh-mah-shee-teh | Nice to meet you (for the first time). |
| どうぞよろしく | dōzo yoroshiku | doh-zoh yoh-roh-shee-koo | Nice to meet you./I look forward to getting to know you. |
Hajimemashite (Nice to meet you for the first time)
The word hajimemashite means “Nice to meet you” on its own, but it comes from the phrase hajimete ome ni kakarimasu (初めてお目にかかります), which essentially means “This is the first time we are meeting each other.” As such, hajimemashite should only be used when you’re meeting someone for the first time.
- Hajimemashite.（はじめまして。）= Nice to meet you.
Hajimemashite can either be written in hiragana or a combination of hiragana and kanji. They’re nearly identical in nuance, with the version including kanji being only slightly more formal.
- Hajimemashite in hiragana: はじめまして
- Hajimemashite in kanji and hiragana: 初めまして
Dōzo yoroshiku (Nice to meet you/I look forward to getting to know you)
One of the most essential greetings in Japanese is dōzo yoroshiku, which means many things, including “Nice to meet you.”
- Dōzo yoroshiku.（どうぞよろしく。）= Nice to meet you.
The root expression yoroshiku (よろしく) broadly communicates well wishes toward the progression of your relationship, conversation, or other ongoing connection. That can be anything from meeting someone for the first time (“Nice to meet you!”) to politely thanking someone at work for joining you on an extended project (“I’m looking forward to working with you!”).
Variations of dōzo yoroshiku for casual and formal settings
It’s important to note that dōzo yoroshiku is somewhat casual, and a slightly different level of formality might be more appropriate depending on the situation. You may be familiar with similar-sounding Japanese greetings, like yoroshiku onegaishimasu. That’s just another version of dōzo yoroshiku!
All of these expressions can mean “Nice to meet you” when introducing yourself, but the formal versions are ideal for business introductions, while the casual versions would be acceptable for meeting a classmate or a friend of a friend.
These variations of dōzo yoroshiku are constructed by adding an adverb or elevating related conjugations to the base expression yoroshiku:
- Dōzo is a Japanese adverb that boils down to “please,” so including it makes the expression more polite.
- Onegai shimasu and onegai itashimasu are both expressions based on the verb negau (願う) that translate to “please,” but the latter is extra formal.
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | Level of Formality |
| どうぞよろしくお願いいたします | dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu | doh-zoh yoh-roh-shee-koo oh-neh-gah-ee ee-tah-shee-mahs | Extra formal |
| よろしくお願いいたします | yoroshiku onegai itashimasu | yoh-roh-shee-koo oh-neh-gah-ee ee-tah-shee-mahs | Very formal |
| どうぞよろしくお願いします | dōzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu | doh-zoh yoh-roh-shee-koo oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs | Formal |
| よろしくお願いします | yoroshiku onegai shimasu | yoh-roh-shee-koo oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs | Polite |
| どうぞよろしく | dōzo yoroshiku | doh-zoh yoh-roh-shee-koo | Semi-casual |
| よろしく | yoroshiku | yoh-roh-shee-koo | Casual |
Scripts and etiquette: using ‘nice to meet you’ in Japanese conversations
It would be odd to use “Nice to meet you” in isolation, so understanding how to include dōzo yoroshiku and hajimemashite in conversation is essential. Start by mastering your self-introduction, including how to say “my name is” in Japanese. The general order of a standard Japanese self-introduction (jikoshōkai, 自己紹介) is:
- Hajimemashite (Japanese bowing culture is important, so add one here!)
- Your name
- Other necessary identifying information (optional)
- Dōzo yoroshiku (or equivalent)
Following that order, introducing yourself to your little brother’s friend might look like this:
- Hajimemashite. Saki desu. Tarō no ane desu. Dōzo yoroshiku.（はじめまして。さきです。たろうの姉です。どうぞよろしく。）= Nice to meet you. I’m Saki. I’m Tarou’s big sister. Nice to meet you and I’m looking forward to getting to know you!
You can skip including dōzo yoroshiku in your self-introduction if something is more pressing than polite well wishes for the future of your relationship. For example, if you meet someone who looks like they need help, you can slip in a quick hajimemashite (if you feel it’s necessary), your name, and then get down to business.
- Hajimemashite. Kyasarin desu. Dōshitan desuka.（はじめまして。キャサリンです。どうしたんですか。）= Nice to meet you. My name is Catherine. What happened?
Be flexible when using hajimemashite and dōzo yoroshiku
Conversations in real life don’t always fit the exact scenarios you practiced, although they’re often close. For example, consider this conversation where two men (Frank and Alex) meet again after a long time.
- Furanku san. Arekkusu desu. Oboete imasu ka.（フランクさん。アレックスです。覚えていますか。）= Frank! I am Alex. Do you remember me?
- Hai, oboete imasu yo. Tsuma no Jenifā desu.（はい、覚えていますよ。妻のジェニファーです。）= Yes, I remember you! This is my wife, Jennifer.
Now, neither Alex nor Jennifer need to introduce themselves by name when they greet each other because Frank already did that part for them. They each use a different phrase to say “Nice to meet you,” which is also fine! The warm greeting comes across even when using only one (just remember that hajimemashite can only be used the first time you meet someone).
- Jenifā san, hajimemashite. Furanku san to watashi wa daigaku no toki no tomodachi deshita.（ジェニファーさん、はじめまして。フランクさんと私は大学の時の友達でした。）= Nice to meet you, Jennifer. Frank and I were friends in college.
- Shujin kara ohanashi wa kīte imashita. Arekkusu san, dōzo yoroshiku.（主人からお話は聞いていました。アレックスさん、どうぞよろしく。）= He has talked about you. Nice to meet you, Alex.
Say ‘Nice to meet you’ in Japanese with confidence
There are several answers to how to say “Nice to meet you” in Japanese, but you can reliably use dōzo yoroshiku and/or hajimemashite when you meet someone for the first time. The best way to get experience with these phrases is to use them yourself. Find someone to join you for Japanese conversation practice, like a friend who’s also learning Japanese or an expert from Rosetta Stone tutoring.
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