Fourth Meeting: Lesson 3, Doozo Yoroshiku (Self-introduction)

For this lesson, we are learning how to introduce ourselves in Japanese. This is an interesting lesson which we can acknowledge ourselves to Japanese people in Japanese language. Usually, Japanese people will say ‘はじめまして’ (hajimemashite/ It’s a first time) only when they first time meeting someone. After that they will not use it any more to the same person.

So, the example of conversation in order to make a self-introduction:

(starting the conversation, asking about name)

A         : はじめました。おなまえ　は？  “Hjimemashita. Onamae wa?” (Hello, what is your name?)

B         : ファリスです。  “Farisu desu.”

                                                Or

B         : わたしのなまえ　は　ファリスです。 “Watashi no namae wa farisu desu.”

A         : ファリスさん　ですね。 “Farisu-san desune.”

(asking about resident)

A         : とから　ですか？  “tokara desuka?” (where are you from?)

B         : マレーシアじんです。  “Mareesia jin desu.”  (I came from Malaysia)

                                                Or

B         : しゅう　マレーシア　からきました。  “shuu Mareesia kara kimashita”

(asking about occupation)

A         : おしごとはなんですか？  “oshigoto wa nadesuka?”  (what is your occupation?)

                                                Or simply ask

A         : おしごとが？   “oshigoto wa?”

B         : わたし は がくぶのがくせい です。  “watashi wa gakubu no gakusee desu.” (I am a university student)

 (asking about year of study)

A         : ねんさいですか？  “nen sai desuka?”   (what year you are?)

B         : さんねんさいです。   “san nen desu”   (I am third year)

A         : そうですか。  “soodesuka.”

(ending conversation)

A         : どうぞ　よろしく。 “doozo yoroshiku”

B         : よろしく　おねがい　します。 “yoroshiku onegaishimasu”

Note:

1. Japanese always address someone ‘san’ (さん) at the back of person name. It is a symbol of politeness. There is another which is:

·         ちゃん(Chan) : usually to address a girl

·         くん(Kun)       : usually to address a boy

·         さま(Sama)     : it is to address the superior

·         どの(Dono)     : use to address royal family

2. You probably used to listen to these phrases in Japanese conversation. ですね (desune) or そうですか (soo desuka). Both are very useful as an ‘aizuchi’ or response to your partner in conversation.

3. The phrases, the lower it goes the less formal it is. (yoroshiku) is very casual and be careful not to use it to older person/ higher status than you or a person who you first met.

·         どうぞ よろしく おねがい します (doozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu) -formal

·         よろしく おねがい します (yoroshiku onegai shimasu) -not very formal

·         よろしく(yoroshiku) -casual