Practice speaking Japanese: your first introduction

Practise a short introduction in Japanese: say your name, say where you are from and ask the other person. Listen to the examples, add your own details, then try a short exchange. Each model includes audio and romanization, so you can start without reading Japanese. Try speaking before opening a hint.

On this page

1. Hear a Japanese introduction
2. Make the introduction your own
3. Say where you are from
4. Put the sentences together
5. Have your first Japanese conversation
6. Tips
7. Frequently asked questions

Hear a Japanese introduction

You are meeting Eevi for the first time. Tap the three sentences and listen in order. Eevi says: nice to meet you, I’m Eevi, nice to meet you. The opening expression starts the introduction; the closing one ends it warmly. Then say each sentence once. If you get stuck, listen again and retry, up to three attempts per sentence. Then move on.

はじめまして。

Hajimemashite.

Nice to meet you.

Say ha-ji-me-ma-shi-te slowly. Use this when meeting someone for the first time.

イーヴィです。

Īvi desu.

I’m Eevi.

Hold the first ee sound in Eevi a little longer. Desu often sounds close to “dess”: the final u may be very quiet.

よろしくお願いします。

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Nice to meet you.

Say yo-ro-shi-ku slowly. In onegai, keep the o-ne-ga-i sounds clear.

Make the introduction your own

In イーヴィです, your name comes before desu. Replace only Eevi with your own name. You do not need to write your name in Japanese yet. Use はじめまして at a first meeting; よろしくお願いします fits at the end of your introduction here. Now use them yourself instead of immediately copying the model.

Say your own name in Japanese.

Show a hint

Your name + desu.

See an example

[your name]です。 [your name] desu.

Start a first introduction and close it warmly.

Show a hint

Start with Hajimemashite. Say your name. End with Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

See an example

はじめまして。[your name]です。よろしくお願いします。 Hajimemashite. [your name] desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Say where you are from

Your partner asks where you are from. Listen to the question and answer. Shusshin means origin; go makes the question more polite. In your own answer, use shusshin without go. The model uses the Netherlands. Use your own country or hometown: Belgium is ベルギー (Berugī), Japan is 日本 (Nihon). If you do not know your country’s Japanese name yet, keep your own name and use Oranda (the Netherlands) as an imaginary origin today. You can add your own origin later. Say the question and your own answer once each.

ご出身は？

Goshusshin wa?

Where are you from?

Hold the sh sound slightly longer in shusshin. The final は is pronounced wa.

オランダ出身です。

Oranda shusshin desu.

I’m from the Netherlands.

Say o-ran-da in three short chunks. Give the double sh in shusshin a little extra time.

Now say where you are from.

Show a hint

Your country or hometown + shusshin desu. For example, Oranda = the Netherlands.

See an example

オランダ出身です。 Oranda shusshin desu. This example fits if you are from the Netherlands. Replace Oranda with your own origin.

Then ask where the other person is from.

Show a hint

Use the question with go at the start and wa at the end.

See an example

ご出身は？ Goshusshin wa?

Put the sentences together

Now connect the same sentences. Try speaking first. Open a hint if you get stuck; the sample answer stays hidden separately. After using help with a part, say the whole response again, then try it without looking.

Introduce yourself: nice to meet you, your name and your origin. Close warmly.

Show a hint

Hajimemashite. [name] desu. [origin] shusshin desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

See an example

はじめまして。イーヴィです。オランダ出身です。よろしくお願いします。 Hajimemashite. Īvi desu. Oranda shusshin desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Eevi from the Netherlands is the model; use your own details.

Say your name and origin again. This time, also ask where the other person is from.

Show a hint

[name] desu. [origin] shusshin desu. Goshusshin wa?

See an example

イーヴィです。オランダ出身です。ご出身は？ Īvi desu. Oranda shusshin desu. Goshusshin wa?

Have your first Japanese conversation

Imagine meeting Eevi. Say your part out loud before opening the example response. You see only your partner’s words and what you want to convey. Help remains available. This page does not listen to or assess your pronunciation. If you are practising with someone, ask them to read the partner’s lines.

Eevi: はじめまして。イーヴィです。 Hajimemashite. Īvi desu. Introduce yourself too.

Show a hint

Eevi says: nice to meet you, I’m Eevi. Start with Hajimemashite and say your name.

See an example

はじめまして。[your name]です。 Hajimemashite. [your name] desu.

Eevi: ご出身は？ Goshusshin wa? Answer and ask the question back.

Show a hint

Eevi asks where you are from. Say [origin] shusshin desu. Then ask Goshusshin wa?

See an example

オランダ出身です。ご出身は？ Oranda shusshin desu. Goshusshin wa? Replace Oranda with your own origin.

Eevi: オランダ出身です。よろしくお願いします。 Oranda shusshin desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Reply warmly to finish the introduction.

Show a hint

Eevi is from the Netherlands and closes the introduction. You can say the same friendly closing back.

See an example

よろしくお願いします。 Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Tips

Introducing yourself: English normally needs a subject in “I am Eevi.” In a Japanese introduction, イーヴィです (Īvi desu) is enough when the speaker is clear. You do not have to add 私は (watashi wa, “as for me”) to every sentence. Keep the name and です together as one useful expression.

Long and short vowels: Japanese vowel length can distinguish words: おばさん (obasan, aunt) and おばあさん (obāsan, grandmother). English vowel contrasts often involve both sound quality and length, so do not rely on English spelling to predict Japanese timing. Listen for the longer vowel and give it extra time.

Katakana and your name: Japanese often writes foreign names and borrowed words in katakana. Their spelling follows Japanese sounds rather than English letters one by one. Eevi is イーヴィ (Īvi) in these examples. You can start speaking with your own name before learning to write it in Japanese.

Polite endings: English often expresses politeness through wording and tone. Japanese also marks it in sentence endings, such as です (desu) and verb forms ending in ます (masu). These are a useful starting point when meeting someone. Learn a short polite expression as a whole before trying to change its form.

A quiet final vowel: In ordinary Japanese speech, the final u in です (desu) can be very quiet, so you may hear something close to “dess.” Do not force a strong English “oo” sound, but do not treat every Japanese u as silent either. Follow the model for the complete expression.

How hard is Japanese for English speakers?

Japanese asks English speakers to get used to different sentence patterns, particles and writing systems. Speaking a short introduction is a smaller first step: you can learn a few polite expressions with audio and romanization before reading Japanese. Pay attention to vowel length and which information the situation already makes clear. Broader conversation and reading need further practice.

Frequently asked questions

How can you get Japanese conversation practice?

Practise with a partner by taking turns. One person introduces themselves; the other replies and asks where they are from. Answer and ask the question back, then close the introduction politely. Swap roles for another round. Keep the model nearby at first, then try the exchange without reading it.

How do you practice speaking Japanese?

Start with a few expressions you can use in one conversation. Listen, say them aloud, then use them to give your own answer rather than immediately copying the recording. Combine the expressions in a short exchange. If you get stuck, check a hint and say your whole response again.

How can you improve your Japanese pronunciation?

Listen to a short Japanese model and try saying it aloud. Pay attention to vowel length and doubled consonants, which can distinguish words. Compare a recording of yourself with the model, or ask a teacher for feedback. Work on one useful point at a time, then use the expression in a conversation.