Lesson 5: Self-Introduction โ Your First Conversation
Master the essential patterns for introducing yourself in Japanese: name, nationality, occupation, and hobbies. Build your 30-second jikoshoukai (self-introduction).
Lesson 5: Self-Introduction โ Your First Conversation ๐ฃ๏ธ
Introduction
Welcome to your first real conversation in Japanese! The ่ชๅทฑ็ดนไป (ใใใใใใใ / jikoshoukai) or "self-introduction" is a fundamental skill you'll use constantly in Japan. Whether meeting new friends, starting a job, joining a club, or even introducing yourself in a classroom, having a smooth self-introduction is essential.
In this lesson, you'll learn the core sentence patterns that allow you to share your name, where you're from, what you do, and what you enjoy. By the end, you'll be able to construct a natural-sounding 30-second introduction that impresses native speakers! ๐
Core Concepts: The Building Blocks of Self-Introduction
1. Name: ๏ฝใฏ๏ฝใงใ Pattern ๐ค
The most fundamental pattern in Japanese is the topic-comment structure using ใฏ (wa) and ใงใ (desu):
[Topic] ใฏ [Comment] ใงใ
ใใใ (watashi) means "I" or "me" (neutral/polite form). When introducing your name:
- ใใใใฏ [Name] ใงใใ = I am [Name].
- Example: ใใใใฏ็ฐไธญใงใใ(Watashi wa Tanaka desu.) = I am Tanaka.
๐ก Tip: Japanese people often use their family name first in formal situations. In casual settings with foreigners, either order works!
Alternative name introduction:
- [Name] ใจ่จใใพใใ (to iimasu) = I am called [Name]. (Slightly more formal)
- Example: ใจใใชใผใจ่จใใพใใ(Emiri- to iimasu.) = I am called Emily.
โ ๏ธ Important: The particle ใฏ is written with the hiragana for "ha" but pronounced "wa" when used as a topic marker!
2. Nationality/Origin: ๏ฝใใๆฅใพใใ (๏ฝkara kimashita) ๐
To say where you're from, use:
[Place] ใใ ๆฅใพใใ (kimashita)
ใใ (kara) = from ๆฅใพใใ (kimashita) = came (polite past tense of ๆฅใ/kuru)
Common countries:
+------------------+------------------+
| Country | Japanese |
+------------------+------------------+
| America | ใขใกใชใซ |
| England | ใคใฎใชใน |
| Australia | ใชใผในใใฉใชใข |
| Canada | ใซใใ |
| France | ใใฉใณใน |
| Germany | ใใคใ |
| China | ไธญๅฝ (ใกใ
ใใใ) |
| Korea | ้ๅฝ (ใใใใ) |
| India | ใคใณใ |
| Brazil | ใใฉใธใซ |
+------------------+------------------+
Examples:
- ใขใกใชใซใใๆฅใพใใใ(Amerika kara kimashita.) = I came from America.
- ใญใณใใณใใๆฅใพใใใ(Rondon kara kimashita.) = I came from London.
๐ Real-world usage: You can use city names, states, or countries. Japanese people love specific details!
3. Occupation: ๏ฝใงใ / ๏ฝใงๅใใฆใใพใ ๐ผ
Two patterns for occupation:
Pattern A (Simple): [Occupation] ใงใ
- ๅญฆ็ใงใใ(Gakusei desu.) = I'm a student.
- ๅ ็ใงใใ(Sensei desu.) = I'm a teacher.
Pattern B (Formal): [Place] ใง ๅใใฆใใพใ (hataraite imasu)
- ็ ้ขใงๅใใฆใใพใใ(Byouin de hataraite imasu.) = I work at a hospital.
- ไผ็คพใงๅใใฆใใพใใ(Kaisha de hataraite imasu.) = I work at a company.
ใง (de) = at/in (location particle for actions) ๅใใฆใใพใ (hataraite imasu) = am working (present continuous)
Common occupations:
+------------------+------------------------+
| Occupation | Japanese |
+------------------+------------------------+
| Student | ๅญฆ็ (ใใใใ) |
| Teacher | ๅ
็ (ใใใใ) |
| Company employee | ไผ็คพๅก (ใใใใใใ) |
| Engineer | ใจใณใธใใข |
| Doctor | ๅป่
(ใใใ) |
| Nurse | ็่ญทๅธซ (ใใใใ) |
| Designer | ใใถใคใใผ |
| Programmer | ใใญใฐใฉใใผ |
| Artist | ใขใผใใฃในใ |
| Writer | ไฝๅฎถ (ใใฃใ) |
+------------------+------------------------+
4. Hobbies: ่ถฃๅณใฏ๏ฝใงใ (Shumi wa ~ desu) ๐จ
To talk about your hobbies:
่ถฃๅณ (ใใ ใฟ / shumi) = hobby
Pattern: ่ถฃๅณใฏ [hobby] ใงใใ
Common hobbies:
+------------------+----------------------+
| Hobby | Japanese |
+------------------+----------------------+
| Reading | ่ชญๆธ (ใฉใใใ) |
| Music | ้ณๆฅฝ (ใใใใ) |
| Sports | ในใใผใ |
| Movies | ๆ ็ป (ใใใ) |
| Anime | ใขใใก |
| Gaming | ใฒใผใ |
| Travel | ๆ
่ก (ใใใใ) |
| Cooking | ๆ็ (ใใใใ) |
| Photography | ๅ็ (ใใใใ) |
| Drawing | ็ตต (ใ) |
+------------------+----------------------+
Examples:
- ่ถฃๅณใฏ่ชญๆธใงใใ(Shumi wa dokusho desu.) = My hobby is reading.
- ่ถฃๅณใฏ้ณๆฅฝใ่ใใใจใงใใ(Shumi wa ongaku wo kiku koto desu.) = My hobby is listening to music.
๐ก Tip: You can add ใๅฅฝใใงใ (ga suki desu) = "I like" for variety:
- ใขใใกใๅฅฝใใงใใ(Anime ga suki desu.) = I like anime.
5. Asking Questions: ๏ฝใงใใ๏ผ โ
To turn any statement into a question, simply add ใ (ka) at the end:
- ใๅๅใฏ๏ผ(Onamae wa?) = Your name? (casual)
- ใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ(Onamae wa nan desu ka?) = What is your name? (polite)
- ใฉใใใๆฅใพใใใ๏ผ(Doko kara kimashita ka?) = Where did you come from?
- ใไปไบใฏ๏ผ(Oshigoto wa?) = Your job?
- ่ถฃๅณใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ(Shumi wa nan desu ka?) = What is your hobby?
Polite prefixes:
- ใ๏ฝ (o~): Makes nouns more polite
- ๅๅ (namae) โ ใๅๅ (onamae) = name (polite)
- ไปไบ (shigoto) โ ใไปไบ (oshigoto) = job (polite)
Detailed Examples with Context ๐ญ
Example 1: Basic Student Introduction
Situation: You're introducing yourself on the first day of Japanese class.
ใฏใใใพใใฆใ
ใใใใฏใตใฉใงใใ
ใขใกใชใซใใๆฅใพใใใ
ๅคงๅญฆ็ใงใใ
่ถฃๅณใฏๆ ็ปใงใใ
ใฉใใใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ
Translation:
- ใฏใใใพใใฆใ(Hajimemashite.) = Nice to meet you. [Literally: "This is the beginning"]
- ใใใใฏใตใฉใงใใ(Watashi wa Sara desu.) = I am Sarah.
- ใขใกใชใซใใๆฅใพใใใ(Amerika kara kimashita.) = I came from America.
- ๅคงๅญฆ็ใงใใ(Daigakusei desu.) = I'm a university student.
- ่ถฃๅณใฏๆ ็ปใงใใ(Shumi wa eiga desu.) = My hobby is movies.
- ใฉใใใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ(Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.) = Please treat me well. [Standard ending phrase]
๐ฃ๏ธ Pronunciation: "Hah-jee-meh-mah-shee-teh. Wah-tah-shee wah Sah-rah deh-su."
Example 2: Professional Introduction with Workplace
Situation: You're at a business networking event in Tokyo.
ใฏใใใพใใฆใ
ๅฑฑ็ฐใจ็ณใใพใใ
ใซใใใฎใใญใณใใใๆฅใพใใใ
ITไผ็คพใงๅใใฆใใพใใ
ใจใณใธใใขใงใใ
่ถฃๅณใฏใฒใผใ ใจใใญใฐใฉใใณใฐใงใใ
ใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ
Translation:
- ๅฑฑ็ฐใจ็ณใใพใใ(Yamada to moushimasu.) = I am called Yamada. [Humble form of ่จใใพใ]
- ใซใใใฎใใญใณใใใๆฅใพใใใ= I came from Toronto, Canada.
- ITไผ็คพใงๅใใฆใใพใใ(IT kaisha de hataraite imasu.) = I work at an IT company.
- ใจใณใธใใขใงใใ(Enjinia desu.) = I'm an engineer.
- ่ถฃๅณใฏใฒใผใ ใจใใญใฐใฉใใณใฐใงใใ= My hobbies are gaming and programming.
๐ผ Business Note: Using ใจ็ณใใพใ (to moushimasu) instead of ใจ่จใใพใ is more humble and appropriate in business settings.
Example 3: Casual Introduction with Age
Situation: You're meeting new friends at a language exchange cafรฉ.
ใใใซใกใฏ๏ผ
ใใใใฏใฑใณใงใใ
ใชใผในใใฉใชใขใใๆฅใพใใใ
22ๆญณใงใใ
ๅคงๅญฆใงๆฅๆฌ่ชใๅๅผทใใฆใใพใใ
่ถฃๅณใฏใตใใซใผใจใขใใกใงใใ
ใใใใ๏ผ
Translation:
- ใใใซใกใฏ๏ผ(Konnichiwa!) = Hello!
- 22ๆญณใงใใ(Nijuuni sai desu.) = I'm 22 years old.
- ๅคงๅญฆใงๆฅๆฌ่ชใๅๅผทใใฆใใพใใ(Daigaku de nihongo wo benkyou shite imasu.) = I'm studying Japanese at university.
- ่ถฃๅณใฏใตใใซใผใจใขใใกใงใใ= My hobbies are soccer and anime.
- ใใใใ๏ผ(Yoroshiku!) = Nice to meet you! [Casual form]
โ ๏ธ Casual vs. Formal: Notice the ending changed from ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ to just ใใใใ for a casual setting with peers.
Example 4: Conversation Flow โ Question and Answer
Situation: Two people meeting for the first time.
A: ใฏใใใพใใฆใใใใใฏ็ฐไธญใงใใ
B: ใฏใใใพใใฆใใชใตใงใใ
A: ใฉใใใๆฅใพใใใ๏ผ
B: ใคใฎใชในใใๆฅใพใใใ็ฐไธญใใใฏ๏ผ
A: ใใใใฏๆฑไบฌๅบ่บซใงใใ
B: ใไปไบใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ
A: ไผ็คพๅกใงใใใชใตใใใฏ๏ผ
B: ใใใใฏๅ
็ใงใใ
A: ใใใงใใ๏ผ่ถฃๅณใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ
B: ่ถฃๅณใฏๆ
่กใงใใ็ฐไธญใใใฏ๏ผ
A: ใใใใฏๆ็ใๅฅฝใใงใใ
B: ใใใงใใญ๏ผ
Translation:
- ็ฐไธญใใใฏ๏ผ(Tanaka-san wa?) = How about you, Tanaka?
- ใใใใฏๆฑไบฌๅบ่บซใงใใ(Watashi wa Toukyou shusshin desu.) = I'm from Tokyo originally.
- ใใใงใใ๏ผ(Sou desu ka!) = Is that so! / Really!
- ใใใงใใญ๏ผ(Ii desu ne!) = That's nice! / Sounds good!
๐ฌ Natural flow: Notice how they bounce questions back with ๏ฝใใใฏ๏ผ ("How about you?"). This is very natural in Japanese conversation!
Common Mistakes โ ๏ธ
Mistake 1: Forgetting ใฏ particle pronunciation
โ Wrong: ใใใHA็ฐไธญใงใใ(pronouncing ใฏ as "ha") โ Correct: ใใใWA็ฐไธญใงใใ(pronouncing ใฏ as "wa")
๐ง Remember: The character ใฏ is always pronounced "wa" when used as the topic particle!
Mistake 2: Using ใงใ after ใใๆฅใพใใ
โ Wrong: ใขใกใชใซใใๆฅใพใใใงใใ โ Correct: ใขใกใชใซใใๆฅใพใใใ
Explanation: ๆฅใพใใ is already polite past tense. Don't add ใงใ after it!
Mistake 3: Wrong particle with occupation location
โ Wrong: ็ ้ขใซๅใใฆใใพใใ โ Correct: ็ ้ขใงๅใใฆใใพใใ
Explanation: Use ใง (not ใซ) for the location where an action takes place. ใซ indicates destination or static location.
Mistake 4: Mixing up occupation patterns
โ Awkward: ๅญฆ็ใงๅใใฆใใพใใ(Student at working...?) โ Correct: ๅญฆ็ใงใใ(I'm a student.) โ Or: ๅคงๅญฆใงๅๅผทใใฆใใพใใ(I'm studying at university.)
Explanation: Use the simple ใงใ pattern for occupations/status. Save ใงๅใใฆใใพใ for actual workplaces.
Mistake 5: Forgetting question particle ใ
โ Wrong: ใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใ(Statement, not question) โ Correct: ใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ
Explanation: Always add ใ at the end to make it a question!
Cultural Context ๐ญ
The Art of Jikoshoukai
In Japan, self-introductions are ritualized and expected in many situations:
When to give a jikoshoukai:
- First day at a new job or school
- Joining a club or group activity
- Meeting someone through mutual friends
- Business meetings with new clients
- Language exchange events
Structure flow:
[Greeting: ใฏใใใพใใฆ]
โ
[Name: ใใใใฏ๏ฝใงใ]
โ
[Origin: ๏ฝใใๆฅใพใใ]
โ
[Occupation/Status: ๏ฝใงใ]
โ
[Hobby/Interest: ่ถฃๅณใฏ๏ฝ]
โ
[Closing: ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ]
๐ค Did you know? The phrase ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) doesn't have a direct English translation. It roughly means "Please treat me favorably" or "I'm in your care." It's essential at the end of introductions!
Using ใใ (san) โ The Universal Honorific
Always add ใใ after someone else's name (but never your own!):
- ็ฐไธญใใ (Tanaka-san) = Mr./Ms./Mrs. Tanaka
- ใตใฉใใ (Sara-san) = Sarah
Other honorifics:
- ๅ ็ (sensei): Teacher, doctor, or expert (replaces ใใ)
- ใใพ (sama): Very formal/respectful version of ใใ
- ใใ (kun): For boys/young men (casual)
- ใกใใ (chan): For children or close friends (cute/casual)
Building Your 30-Second Jikoshoukai ๐ฏ
Step-by-Step Template
Fill in the blanks to create YOUR introduction:
1. ใฏใใใพใใฆใ
2. ใใใใฏ [YOUR NAME] ใงใใ
OR: [YOUR NAME] ใจ่จใใพใใ
3. [COUNTRY/CITY] ใใๆฅใพใใใ
4. [OCCUPATION] ใงใใ
OR: [PLACE] ใงๅใใฆใใพใใ
5. ่ถฃๅณใฏ [HOBBY] ใงใใ
OR: [HOBBY] ใๅฅฝใใงใใ
6. ใฉใใใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ
๐ง Try this: Write out your own jikoshoukai on paper right now. Practice saying it aloud 5 times. Time yourself โ aim for 20-30 seconds!
Adding Personality
To make your introduction memorable, add specific details:
Instead of: ่ถฃๅณใฏ้ณๆฅฝใงใใ(My hobby is music.) Say: ่ถฃๅณใฏใธใฃใบ้ณๆฅฝใ่ใใใจใงใใ(My hobby is listening to jazz music.)
Instead of: ๅญฆ็ใงใใ(I'm a student.) Say: ๆฑไบฌๅคงๅญฆใง็ตๆธๅญฆใๅๅผทใใฆใใๅญฆ็ใงใใ(I'm a student studying economics at Tokyo University.)
Key Vocabulary Summary ๐
Particles
+------+----------------------------------+
| ใฏ | Topic marker (wa) |
| ใใ | From |
| ใง | At/in (action location) |
| ใ | Object marker |
| ใ | Subject marker |
| ใ | Question marker |
+------+----------------------------------+
Essential Verbs
+------------------+------------------+
| ใงใ | To be (is/am) |
| ๆฅใพใใ | Came |
| ๅใใฆใใพใ | Am working |
| ๅๅผทใใฆใใพใ | Am studying |
| ่จใใพใ | Am called |
+------------------+------------------+
Key Phrases
+--------------------------------+------------------------------+
| ใฏใใใพใใฆ | Nice to meet you (first time)|
| ใใใ | I, me |
| ่ถฃๅณ | Hobby |
| ใๅๅ | Name (polite) |
| ใไปไบ | Job (polite) |
| ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ | Please treat me well |
| ใฉใ | Where |
| ไฝ (ใชใ/ใชใซ) | What |
+--------------------------------+------------------------------+
Key Takeaways ๐
- The basic pattern [Topic] ใฏ [Comment] ใงใ is the foundation of Japanese sentences
- Use ๏ฝใใๆฅใพใใ to say where you're from
- Simple occupations use ใงใ, workplace occupations use ๏ฝใงๅใใฆใใพใ
- ่ถฃๅณใฏ๏ฝใงใ is the standard hobby pattern
- Add ใ at the end to make any statement a question
- Always end with ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ in formal introductions
- Practice your 30-second jikoshoukai until it flows naturally
- Use ใใ after others' names, never your own
- ใฏ is pronounced "wa" when used as a particle
- Specific details make your introduction more memorable and interesting!
๐ Further Study
- JapanesePod101 Self-Introduction Lessons: https://www.japanesepod101.com/lesson-library/absolute-beginner/
- Tofugu: How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/how-to-introduce-yourself-in-japanese/
- NHK World Easy Japanese (Lesson 1): https://www.nhk.or.jp/lesson/en/lessons/
Quick Reference Card ๐
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ SELF-INTRODUCTION QUICK GUIDE โ
โ โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโฃ
โ GREETING โ
โ ใฏใใใพใใฆใ = Nice to meet you โ
โ โ
โ NAME โ
โ ใใใใฏ [name] ใงใใ = I am [name] โ
โ [name] ใจ่จใใพใใ = I'm called [name] โ
โ โ
โ ORIGIN โ
โ [place] ใใๆฅใพใใใ = I came from [place] โ
โ โ
โ OCCUPATION โ
โ [job] ใงใใ = I'm a [job] โ
โ [place] ใงๅใใฆใใพใใ = I work at [place] โ
โ โ
โ HOBBY โ
โ ่ถฃๅณใฏ [hobby] ใงใใ = My hobby is [hobby] โ
โ [thing] ใๅฅฝใใงใใ = I like [thing] โ
โ โ
โ CLOSING โ
โ ใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ = Please treat me well โ
โ โ
โ ASKING QUESTIONS โ
โ ใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ = What's your name? โ
โ ใฉใใใๆฅใพใใใ๏ผ = Where are you from? โ
โ ใไปไบใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ = What's your job? โ
โ ่ถฃๅณใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ = What's your hobby? โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ช Practice makes perfect! Use this lesson to introduce yourself to Japanese speakers online or in person. The more you practice your jikoshoukai, the more natural it will become!