Introducing Yourself in Japanese: Politeness Levels Made Simple

For a safe first introduction in Japanese, say “Hajimemashite. Alex desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” It means, roughly, “Nice to meet you. I’m Alex. I look forward to knowing or working with you.” This polite pattern works with a new colleague, a host, or someone you meet at an event.

You do not need to choose between many politeness levels before you can say hello. Start with the standard desu/masu style, use a small bow or nod, and let the setting tell you whether the conversation can become more casual later.

The standard Japanese self-introduction

Japanese	Reading	Practical meaning
はじめまして。	hajimemashite	Nice to meet you (said at a first meeting).
アレックスです。	Arekkusu desu	I’m Alex.
よろしくお願いします。	yoroshiku onegaishimasu	A polite close to the introduction.
ご出身はどこですか。	go-shusshin wa doko desu ka	Where are you from?

Together:

はじめまして。アレックスです。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite. Arekkusu desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Say it in three small beats. A short pause between them sounds natural and gives you time to breathe.

What “hajimemashite” really does

はじめまして (hajimemashite) marks a first meeting. Use it only when you are meeting someone for the first time. You do not use it as a general “hello,” and you do not repeat it the next time you see the person.

Its job is simple: it tells the other person that an introduction has begun. They will often say hajimemashite back, so hearing the same word is not a new question you need to answer.

After it, say your name plus です (desu). Japanese often leaves out “I,” so Alex desu is enough. You can say Watashi wa Alex desu, but in this setting the subject is already clear and the shorter form sounds natural.

Why “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” has no neat translation

よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) appears at the end of introductions, requests, and the start of working relationships. Depending on the setting, English translations include “pleased to meet you,” “I look forward to working with you,” or “thank you in advance.” None covers every use.

For a first introduction, do not solve it word by word. Learn it as the expected closing line. The other person will often answer with the same phrase.

If you listen closely, the spoken ending may sound shorter than the spelling suggests. Keep your own version clear and steady. You do not have to copy a fast speaker on day one.

How formal should you be?

Japanese politeness is not a choice between “very formal” and “slang.” Think of three practical settings.

A new colleague or professional contact

Use the full pattern:

はじめまして。アレックスです。よろしくお願いします。

If your role matters, add it after your name or company introduction only when you know the right wording. The basic pattern is better than a complicated line you cannot deliver comfortably.

Address the other person by family name plus さん (san) after you learn it. Do not add san to your own name.

A meetup, class, or friend of a friend

The same polite pattern is still safe. It does not make you sound cold. Japanese speakers commonly begin with desu/masu language even in social settings, then relax as the relationship becomes clear.

You may hear a shorter よろしく (yoroshiku) between peers. You do not need to lead with it. Starting politely gives the other person room to set a more casual tone.

A clearly formal introduction

In a formal workplace or ceremonial setting, native speakers may use honorific language and a fuller company-and-role introduction. As a learner, clear standard politeness is usually more useful than memorizing one advanced formula without understanding the setting. Listen to how your host introduces people and follow their pace.

When and how to bow

A small bow or head-and-shoulders nod is appropriate during a first introduction. In a normal meetup, you do not need to measure an angle or hold the bow. Face the person, keep your hands still, and make the movement calmly as you greet them.

If someone offers a handshake, follow their lead. In international settings, a handshake and a light bow sometimes happen together. The aim is to acknowledge the person, not to perform a perfect piece of etiquette.

Avoid speaking into a deep bow. Say the phrase clearly, then let a small bow fall at the end of the greeting or around yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Keep the conversation going

After names, a useful polite question is:

ご出身はどこですか。
Go-shusshin wa doko desu ka?
“Where are you from?”

The go- prefix makes shusshin (place of origin) polite. A likely answer is a place plus です: 大阪です (Ōsaka desu), “Osaka.”

If the other person asks you the same question, answer with your city or country plus desu. You can then return the question with 〇〇さんは？ (“And you, [name]?”), but only once you are sure of the name.

What not to worry about yet

• You do not need to explain your full background in the opening.
• You do not need to use advanced honorific Japanese to be respectful.
• You do not need a native accent before speaking.
• You do need to recognize when the other person says their name and yoroshiku onegaishimasu back.

Practice listening for the reply as carefully as you practice your own line. A conversation continues because you recognize the handoff.

Rehearse one realistic first meeting

Use your real name, not “Alex,” and run this sequence aloud:

1. Say hajimemashite and your name.
2. Close with yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
3. Hear the other person introduce themselves.
4. Ask go-shusshin wa doko desu ka.
5. React to the place, even if your response is only Sō desu ka (“I see”).

If your mind goes blank even when you know the script, the guide to the three-minute speaking fix will help you reduce the pressure. For a broader way to judge what you can do in live interaction, see CEFR levels explained in plain English.

Linguino’s Osaka introduction scene begins with these exact phrases, then turns them into a live spoken exchange. Your AI teacher plays the person you have just met, adapts to your answer, and gives you a phrase card if you get stuck. Japanese cards include the native script, a reading, and the meaning; you can also replay and translate the teacher’s lines.

You are ready when you can say your three-part introduction, hear the reply, and ask one real question. That is enough to make the first meeting begin.